Shloka 48
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
गोप्तारावर्जुनस्यैतावर्जुनोडपि शिखण्डिन: । रक्ष्यमाण: स पार्थेन तथास्माभिविंवर्जित:
goptārāv arjunasya etāv arjuno 'pi śikhaṇḍinaḥ | rakṣyamāṇaḥ sa pārthena tathāsmābhir vivarjitaḥ ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇവർ രണ്ടുപേരും അർജുനന്റെ രക്ഷകരായിരുന്നു; അർജുനൻ തന്നെയോ ശിഖണ്ഡിയുടെ രക്ഷകൻ. പാർഥന്റെ സംരക്ഷണത്തിൽ ശിഖണ്ഡി മുന്നേറി; ഞങ്ങൾ അവനെ തടയാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞില്ല.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield dharma expressed as protective responsibility: warriors do not act in isolation but uphold their duty through coordinated guardianship, shielding key agents so that a larger strategic and moral objective can be pursued.
Sañjaya reports that two fighters are guarding Arjuna, while Arjuna himself is guarding Śikhaṇḍin. With Arjuna’s protection, Śikhaṇḍin advances effectively, and the opposing side finds itself unable to restrain or counter him.