Shloka 41

भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash

Devanagari script

अरक्ष्यमाणं हि वृको हन्यात्‌ सिंहं महाहवे । मा वृकेणेव गाड़ेयं घातयेम शिखण्डिना,“यदि महायुद्धमें सिंहकी रक्षा नहीं की जाय तो उसे एक भेड़िया मार सकता है, परंतु हम भेड़ियेके सदूश शिखण्डीके हाथसे सिंहके समान भीष्मका वध नहीं होने देंगे

Transliteration

arakṣyamāṇaṃ hi vṛko hanyāt siṃhaṃ mahāhave | mā vṛkeṇeva gāḍeyaṃ ghātayema śikhaṇḍinā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “In a great battle, if a lion is left unprotected, even a wolf could strike it down. But we shall not allow Bhīṣma—lion-like in valor—to be slain through Śikhaṇḍin, who is like a wolf.”

Word by Word

अरक्ष्यमाणम्not being protected

हिindeed/for

वृकःa wolf

हन्यात्would/could kill

सिंहम्a lion

महाहवेin the great battle

माdo not

वृकेणby a wolf

इवlike/as

गाढेयम्the lion (Gāḍheya, i.e., Bhīṣma)

घातयेमwe should cause to be slain / let (him) be killed

शिखण्डिनाby Śikhaṇḍin

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Śikhaṇḍin

siṃha (lion)

vṛka (wolf)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical stance on warfare: a mighty warrior should not be brought down through a perceived unworthy or indirect means. It emphasizes guarding honor and preventing a revered elder (Bhīṣma) from being slain by exploiting a tactical vulnerability associated with Śikhaṇḍin.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the Kurus’ resolve regarding the battlefield situation: Bhīṣma, though supremely powerful, could be endangered if left unsupported. The simile warns that even a ‘wolf’ can kill a ‘lion’ if the lion is unguarded, and declares they will not permit Bhīṣma’s fall through Śikhaṇḍin’s agency.