Shloka 57
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
दुःशासनो5पि परया शक्त्या पार्थमवारयत् | कथं भीष्म॑ न नो हन्यादिति निश्चित्य भारत
sañjaya uvāca | duḥśāsano 'pi parayā śaktyā pārtham avārayat | kathaṃ bhīṣmaṃ na no hanyād iti niścitya bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Bhārata, bahkan Duḥśāsana pun—setelah berketetapan, “Bagaimana agar Bhīṣma kita tidak terbunuh?”—berusaha sekuat tenaga menahan Pārtha (Arjuna).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment to a key protector (Bhīṣma) drives urgent, forceful action in war. Ethically, it shows the tension between duty to one’s side and the fear of losing a revered elder whose presence sustains morale and legitimacy.
During the Kurukṣetra battle, Duḥśāsana exerts maximum effort to block Arjuna, motivated by the resolve that Bhīṣma must not be killed. It depicts a tactical attempt to prevent Arjuna from reaching or overpowering Bhīṣma.