Shloka 41
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
यथा प्राग्र्यान् यथा ज्येष्ठान् यथा शूरांश्व संगतान् । निपातयत्युग्रधन्वा त॑ प्रगृूह्लीत माचिरम्,तदनन्तर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने सभी महारथियोंसे कहा--'ये भयंकर धनुर्धर भीमसेन युद्धमें क़ुद्ध होकर सामने आये हुए श्रेष्ठ, ज्येष्ठ एवं शूर महारथी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंकी मार गिराते हैं। अतः तुम सब लोग मिलकर इन्हें शीघ्र काबूमें करो”
sañjaya uvāca | yathā prāgryān yathā jyeṣṭhān yathā śūrāṃś ca saṃgatān | nipātayaty ugradhanvā taṃ pragṛhṇīta mā ciram | tad-anantaraṃ śāntanunandano bhīṣmaḥ sarvān mahārathīn uvāca— ‘eṣa bhīmasenaḥ raṇe kruddhaḥ samāgatān prāgryān jyeṣṭhān śūrāṃś ca dhṛtarāṣṭraputrān nipātayati; ataḥ sarve yūyaṃ saṃhatā enam āśu vaśaṃ nayata’ iti |
Sañjaya said: “As that fierce archer strikes down the foremost, the elders, and the assembled heroes, restrain him at once without delay.” After this, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, addressed all the great chariot-warriors: “This Bhīmasena, enraged in battle, is felling the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—those foremost, senior, and heroic fighters who have come to face him. Therefore, all of you together, quickly bring him under control.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharma-framed war, uncontrolled fury becomes a strategic and ethical crisis; leadership responds by urging coordinated restraint and disciplined action rather than panic or isolated heroics.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, enraged, is cutting down prominent Kaurava fighters. Bhīṣma then instructs the assembled mahārathīs to unite and quickly subdue or check Bhīma’s onslaught.