Shloka 8
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
द्रवमाणेषु शूरेषु सोदरेषु तव प्रभो । सूतपुत्रे च राधेये पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्,'प्रभो! उस अवसरपर तुम्हारे ये शूरवीर भाई और राधानन्दन सूतपुत्र कर्ण तो मैदान छोड़कर भाग गये थे। यह अर्जुनकी अदभुत शक्तिका पर्याप्त उदाहरण है
sañjaya uvāca |
dravāmāṇeṣu śūreṣu sodareṣu tava prabho |
sūtaputre ca rādhēye paryāptaṃ tan nidarśanam ||
Sanjaya said: “O lord, when your own heroic brothers were fleeing in disarray—and when Radheya, the charioteer’s son (Karna), also turned away from the field—that itself is sufficient proof of Arjuna’s extraordinary might.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how observable conduct in crisis—especially the retreat of renowned warriors—serves as compelling evidence of an opponent’s superior prowess; it also underscores the ethical tension in war between reputation and actual steadfastness under pressure.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that even Dhritarashtra’s own heroic sons and Karna withdrew from the field at a critical moment, and he presents this retreat as a decisive demonstration of Arjuna’s exceptional strength.