Shloka 54
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
भीष्मजीका शिखण्डीसे युद्ध न करनेकी इच्छा प्रकट करना “महाबाहो! युद्धमें महाबली भीष्म तुम्हें पीड़ा नहीं दे सकते, इसलिये आज यत्नपूर्वक इनके ऊपर धावा करो ।। अहत्वा समरे भीष्म यदि यास्यसि मारिष । अवहास्यो5स्य लोकस्य भविष्यसि मया सह,“आर्य! यदि समरभूमिमें भीष्मको मारे बिना लौट जाओगे तो मेरे सहित तुम इस लोकमें उपहासके पात्र बन जाओगे
sañjaya uvāca | mahābāho! yuddhe mahābalī bhīṣmaḥ tvāṃ pīḍāṃ na dāsyati, tasmād adya yatnapūrvakam etān prati dhāva | ahatvā samare bhīṣmam yadi yāsyasi māriṣa, avahāsyo ’sya lokasya bhaviṣyasi mayā saha |
サञ्जयは言った。「強き腕の者よ！戦場において、あの大いなる力を持つビーシュマは汝に苦痛を与え得ぬ。ゆえに今日、周到な努力をもって彼に攻めかかれ。もし、愛しき者よ、戦場でビーシュマを討たぬまま退くなら、汝は—我とともに—この世の嘲笑の的となろう。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior-code emphasis on resolve and honor in battle: retreating without accomplishing the crucial objective (bringing down Bhishma) is framed as a loss of reputation. It also shows how ethical constraints (Bhishma’s refusal to fight Shikhandi) become strategic leverage.
Sanjaya reports an exhortation urging a decisive assault on Bhishma, noting that Bhishma will not harm Shikhandi in combat. The speaker presses the addressee to advance and not return without Bhishma’s fall, warning that withdrawal would invite public ridicule.