Shloka 23
तमेक॑ समरे शूरं पाण्डवा: सूंजयै: सह । अनेकशतसाहसं समपश्यन्त लाघवात्,युद्धमें शूरवीर भीष्म यद्यपि अकेले थे, तथापि सूंजयोंसहित पाण्डवोंको वे अपनी फुर्तीके कारण कई लाख व्यक्तियोंके समान दिखायी दिये
tam ekaṃ samare śūraṃ pāṇḍavāḥ sūñjayaiḥ saha | anekaśatasāhasraṃ samapaśyanta lāghavāt ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, though Bhīṣma stood alone as a hero, the Pāṇḍavas—together with the Sṛñjayas—beheld him, by reason of his swift prowess, as if he were many hundreds of thousands. The verse underscores how disciplined skill and unwavering resolve can magnify a single warrior’s presence, shaping the moral and psychological landscape of war beyond mere numbers.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that excellence in skill, speed, and steadfast courage can create an effect disproportionate to one’s numbers—an ethical reminder that in war, morale and perceived power often hinge on discipline and mastery, not merely on mass.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, though physically alone in that moment, moved with such rapidity and effectiveness that the Pāṇḍavas and their Sṛñjaya allies perceived him as if he were an enormous host.