Shloka 12
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
पुत्रैस्तव दुराधर्षो रक्षित: सुमहाबलै: । (प्रययौ पाण्डवानीकं भीष्म: शान्तनुनन्दन: ।) ततो द्रोणो महेष्वास: पुत्रश्चास्य महाबल:,दुर्धर्ष वीर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म आपके महाबली पुत्रोंसे सुरक्षित हो पाण्डवोंकी सेनाकी ओर बढ़े। उनके पीछे महाधनुर्धर द्रोणाचार्य और महाबली अश्वत्थामा चले
sañjaya uvāca | putrais tava durādharṣo rakṣitaḥ sumahābalaiḥ | (prayayau pāṇḍavānīkaṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanunandanaḥ |) tato droṇo maheṣvāsaḥ putraś cāsya mahābalaḥ |
サञ्जयは言った。王の御子ら――いずれも大力にして攻め難き者――に守られつつ、シャーンタヌの子ビ―シュマ、難攻不落の勇士はパーンダヴァ軍へと進んだ。その後に、大弓の達人ドローナと、その子にして剛力の戦士アシュヴァッターマが続いた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and protection through lineage and military strength can propel leaders into action, but the verse implicitly highlights the ethical gravity of command: great warriors and teachers (Bhīṣma, Droṇa) move forward in war, showing how duty and allegiance can drive action even when the conflict is morally fraught.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, protected by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s mighty sons, advances toward the Pāṇḍava army. Immediately behind him march Droṇa and Droṇa’s powerful son Aśvatthāmā, indicating the forward movement of key Kaurava commanders into the main engagement.