Shloka 51
अर्जुनो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमुवाच ह । भीष्मको रथोंके समूहसे घिरा हुआ देख रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने धृष्टद्युम्नसे कहा - || ५० ह || शिखण्डिनं नरव्याप्र॑ भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे नूप । स्थापयस्वाद्य पाञज्चाल्य तस्य गोप्ताहमित्युत,“नरेश्वर! पांचालराजकुमारर! आज तुम पुरुषसिंह शिखण्डीको भीष्मके सामने उपस्थित करो। मैं उसकी रक्षा करूँगा”
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno rathināṃ śreṣṭho dhṛṣṭadyumnam uvāca ha | bhīṣmaṃ rathānīka-samūhena ghṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathināṃ śreṣṭho 'rjuno dhṛṣṭadyumnam uvāca | śikhaṇḍinaṃ nara-vyāghra bhīṣmasya pramukhe nūnam | sthāpayasvādya pāñcālya tasya goptāham ity uvāca ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Bhīṣma surrounded by a massed formation of chariots, Arjuna—the foremost among chariot-warriors—addressed Dhṛṣṭadyumna: “O tiger among men, O Pāñcāla prince, place Śikhaṇḍin today directly before Bhīṣma. I shall be his protector.” In this moment Arjuna deliberately chooses a tactical arrangement that exploits Bhīṣma’s vow and moral restraint, aiming to end a devastating slaughter while still acting within the accepted codes of the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma in war includes both courage and restraint: Arjuna seeks to stop Bhīṣma’s overwhelming destruction by using a lawful tactical means tied to Bhīṣma’s own ethical vow, while also taking responsibility to protect Śikhaṇḍin.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, seeing Bhīṣma strongly protected within a chariot formation, instructs Dhṛṣṭadyumna to place Śikhaṇḍin at the front facing Bhīṣma, with Arjuna promising to guard him—setting up the maneuver that will allow Bhīṣma to be checked.