Shloka 37
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
घटोत्कचं रणे यान्तं निघ्नन्तं तव वाहिनीम् । दुर्मुख: समरे प्रायाद् भीष्महेतो: पराक्रमी
sañjaya uvāca |
ghaṭotkacaṁ raṇe yāntaṁ nighnantaṁ tava vāhinīm |
durmukhaḥ samare prāyād bhīṣma-hetoḥ parākramī ||
Saat itu, melihat Ghaṭotkaca maju di medan laga sambil membantai pasukanmu, Durmukha yang perkasa menerjangnya demi melindungi Bhisma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, valor is often guided by allegiance and perceived duty: Durmukha’s courage is framed as service to Bhīṣma’s safety. It implicitly raises the ethical tension between loyalty to one’s leader and the destructive momentum of battle.
Ghaṭotkaca is advancing on the battlefield, slaughtering the Kaurava forces. In response, the valiant Kaurava warrior Durmukha charges forth to attack him, motivated by the need to protect/support Bhīṣma.