Shloka 13
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
(भीष्मो5पि दृष्टवा समरे कृतास्त्रान् स पाण्डवानां रथिनो हरुदारान् | विहाय संग्राममुखे धनंजयं जवेन पार्थ पुनराजगाम ।।
sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmo 'pi dṛṣṭvā samare kṛtāstrān sa pāṇḍavānāṁ rathino hṛdārān | vihāya saṅgrāmamukhe dhanañjayaṁ javena pārtha punar ājagāma ||
Sañjaya dit : Même Bhīṣma—bien qu’il vît devant lui, sur le champ de bataille, les nobles guerriers en chars des Pāṇḍava, entièrement armés et prêts—les laissa à l’avant même du combat et, avec une grande vitesse, revint encore vers Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Ce moment souligne l’urgence tactique de Bhīṣma et son engagement concentré contre Arjuna, le combattant pivot dont la présence pouvait décider de l’issue militaire et du poids moral de la guerre.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined prioritization of duty in war: even when many worthy opponents stand before him, Bhīṣma chooses the most consequential engagement. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma as strategic responsibility—directing one’s effort where it most affects the course of the conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, seeing the armed and noble Pāṇḍava chariot-fighters at the battle-front, does not remain to fight them then; instead he swiftly leaves them and returns toward Arjuna (Dhanañjaya/Pārtha), indicating a tactical shift and a renewed focus on confronting Arjuna.