Shloka 356
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
नाशवनुवन् वारयितुं भीष्मबाणप्रपीडितान् । वे सब वीर वहाँ मौजूद होते हुए भी भीष्मके बाणोंसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित होकर भागते हुए अपने महारथियोंको रोकनेमें समर्थ न हो सके
sañjaya uvāca | nāśakanuvan vārayituṃ bhīṣmabāṇaprapīḍitān | te sarve vīrāḥ tatra maujūdaḥ santo 'pi bhīṣmasya bāṇaiḥ atyantaṃ pīḍitāḥ palāyamānāḥ svān mahārathīn vārayituṃ na śekuḥ |
Sanjaya said: They were unable to restrain those warriors who were being crushed by Bhishma’s arrows. Though many heroes were present there, overwhelmed by the force of Bhishma’s shafts and fleeing in distress, they could not check even their own great chariot-warriors. The passage underscores how fear and battlefield pressure can dissolve discipline and duty, even among the renowned.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even celebrated warriors can fail in their duty when morale collapses; the episode highlights the ethical demand of steadiness (dhairya) and disciplined leadership in war, and how overwhelming force can expose human limitation.
Sanjaya reports that Bhishma’s arrow-barrage is so severe that fighters begin to flee, and those present—despite being valiant—cannot stop or rally their own elite chariot-warriors from retreating.