Shloka 37
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
घटोत्कचं रणे यान्तं निघ्नन्तं तव वाहिनीम् । दुर्मुख: समरे प्रायाद् भीष्महेतो: पराक्रमी
sañjaya uvāca |
ghaṭotkacaṁ raṇe yāntaṁ nighnantaṁ tava vāhinīm |
durmukhaḥ samare prāyād bhīṣma-hetoḥ parākramī ||
サञ्जयは言った。「戦場でガトートカチャが進み来たり、汝の軍勢を討ち滅ぼしつつあるのを見て、勇猛なるドゥルムカはビ―シュマを守るため、彼に向かって戦いへ躍り込んだ。かくして戦の混乱のただ中でも、個の武勇は主将への忠誠と義務によって導かれ、相手が恐るべき破壊の力であろうとも向けられるのである。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, valor is often guided by allegiance and perceived duty: Durmukha’s courage is framed as service to Bhīṣma’s safety. It implicitly raises the ethical tension between loyalty to one’s leader and the destructive momentum of battle.
Ghaṭotkaca is advancing on the battlefield, slaughtering the Kaurava forces. In response, the valiant Kaurava warrior Durmukha charges forth to attack him, motivated by the need to protect/support Bhīṣma.