Shloka 36
भीमसेनस्य गदायुद्ध-प्रभावः
The Battlefield Impact of Bhīmasena’s Mace Combat
तत् प्रभग्नं बल॑ दृष्टवा पिता देववब्रतस्तव । अब्रवीत् समरे शूरं भारद्वाजं स्मयन्निव,कौरव-सेनाको इस प्रकार भागती देख समरभूमिमें खड़े हुए आपके ताऊ भीष्मने वीरवर आचार्य द्रोणसे मुसकराते हुए-से कहा--
tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitā devavratas tava | abravīt samare śūraṃ bhāradvājaṃ smayann iva ||
Melihat bala tentaramu porak-poranda dan lari, kakekmu Devavrata (Bhīṣma) yang berdiri di medan perang berkata kepada sang pahlawan Bhāradvāja (Droṇa), seakan dengan senyum tipis.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield leadership under crisis: an elder commander observes collapse in morale and addresses a key warrior-teacher, implying that steadiness, strategic resolve, and accountability are required when one’s side falters—an aspect of kṣatriya-duty amid ethical tension.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, seeing the Kaurava forces broken and fleeing, turns to Droṇa on the battlefield and speaks to him, seemingly with a smile—setting up a consequential exchange about restoring order and confronting the immediate military setback.