Shloka 22

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

भीष्मेण तु रणे पार्था: पालिता बाहुशालिना

Transliteration

bhīṣmeṇa tu raṇe pārthāḥ pālitā bāhuśālinā

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran, putra-putra Pṛthā dilindungi oleh Bhīṣma, sang kesatria berlengan perkasa. Baris ini menampakkan bagaimana jalannya perang dapat bergantung pada perlindungan satu pejuang agung, menajamkan ketegangan antara kesetiaan pada pihak sendiri dan kewajiban menahan kehancuran.

Word by Word

• भीष्मेण: by Bhishma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थाः: the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas)
• पार्थाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पालिताः: protected/guarded
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• बाहुशालिना: by the strong-armed one
• बाहुशालिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाहुशालिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, the presence of a powerful protector can limit harm and shape outcomes; the verse highlights the dharmic tension between martial loyalty and the responsibility to safeguard life where possible.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that during the fighting, Bhīṣma—renowned for strength and battlefield mastery—served as a protective force for the Pāṇḍavas, implying that his conduct and positioning in the battle affected their safety.