Shloka 26
Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam
गजानीकेन भीमस्य ताववारयतां दिश: । उसी प्रकार भगदत्त तथा महाबली श्रुतायुने हाथियोंकी सेनाद्वारा भीमसेनकी सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको रोक लिया ।। भूरिश्रवा: शलश्वैव सौबलश्न विशाम्पते
gajānīkena bhīmasya tāv avārayatāṃ diśaḥ | usī prakāraṃ bhagadatta tathā mahābalī śrutāyunā hastīnāṃ senayā bhīmasenasya sampūrṇā diśo ruddhvā || bhūriśravāḥ śalaś caiva saubalaś ca viśāṃpate ||
Dengan satu pasukan gajah, mereka menutup semua arah di sekitar Bhīma. Wahai tuan di antara manusia, Bhūriśravā, Śala, dan Saubala pun ada di sana, mendesak dalam hiruk-pikuk perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of coordinated duty (kṣatriya-dharma): courage is not merely individual might, but steadfastness when faced with strategic containment and overwhelming force.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma is being hemmed in from all sides by enemy warriors using an elephant corps; additional fighters—Bhūriśravā, Śala, and Saubala—are also present, intensifying the encirclement.