Shloka 15
Adhyāya 112: Bhīṣma-prati Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Forward Drive Toward Bhīṣma
जयन्तं पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्सैन्यं चाभिपीडितम् । दुर्योधनस्ततो भीष्ममब्रवीद् भूशपीडित:,पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनको जीतते और आपकी सेनाको पीड़ित होती देख दुर्योधन अत्यन्त पीड़ित होकर भीष्मसे बोला--
jayantaṁ pāṇḍavaṁ dṛṣṭvā tvatsainyaṁ cābhipīḍitam | duryodhanas tato bhīṣmam abravīd bhūśapīḍitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the victorious son of Pāṇḍu and your army being hard-pressed, Duryodhana—deeply afflicted by the burden of the situation—then addressed Bhīṣma. The verse frames a moral tension: pride and entitlement confronted by the visible consequences of adharma on the battlefield, prompting Duryodhana to seek counsel from the elder he relies upon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When power is pursued without dharma, the battlefield reveals the moral cost: anxiety, dependence on others for reassurance, and the collapse of confidence. The verse highlights how adharma-driven leadership seeks external support (Bhīṣma) when confronted by the visible suffering of its own forces.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is prevailing and the Kaurava army is being severely pressured. Distressed by this, Duryodhana turns to Bhīṣma and speaks to him, setting up Duryodhana’s appeal/complaint and Bhīṣma’s role as commander and elder counselor.