Shloka 22

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

भीष्मेण तु रणे पार्था: पालिता बाहुशालिना

Transliteration

bhīṣmeṇa tu raṇe pārthāḥ pālitā bāhuśālinā

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, the sons of Pṛthā were protected by Bhīṣma, the mighty-armed warrior. The line underscores how the course of war can hinge on the guardianship of a single eminent fighter, raising the ethical tension between loyalty to one’s side and the duty to restrain destruction.

Word by Word

• भीष्मेण: by Bhishma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थाः: the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas)
• पार्थाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पालिताः: protected/guarded
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• बाहुशालिना: by the strong-armed one
• बाहुशालिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाहुशालिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Pārthas (Pāṇḍavas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, the presence of a powerful protector can limit harm and shape outcomes; the verse highlights the dharmic tension between martial loyalty and the responsibility to safeguard life where possible.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that during the fighting, Bhīṣma—renowned for strength and battlefield mastery—served as a protective force for the Pāṇḍavas, implying that his conduct and positioning in the battle affected their safety.