Shloka 15
Adhyāya 112: Bhīṣma-prati Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Forward Drive Toward Bhīṣma
जयन्तं पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्सैन्यं चाभिपीडितम् । दुर्योधनस्ततो भीष्ममब्रवीद् भूशपीडित:,पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनको जीतते और आपकी सेनाको पीड़ित होती देख दुर्योधन अत्यन्त पीड़ित होकर भीष्मसे बोला--
jayantaṁ pāṇḍavaṁ dṛṣṭvā tvatsainyaṁ cābhipīḍitam | duryodhanas tato bhīṣmam abravīd bhūśapīḍitaḥ ||
പാണ്ഡവനായ അർജുനൻ ജയിച്ചു മുന്നേറുന്നതും നിങ്ങളുടെ സൈന്യം അമർന്നു പീഡിതമാകുന്നതും കണ്ട ദുഃഖഭാരിതനായ ദുര്യോധനൻ അപ്പോൾ ഭീഷ്മനോട് പറഞ്ഞു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When power is pursued without dharma, the battlefield reveals the moral cost: anxiety, dependence on others for reassurance, and the collapse of confidence. The verse highlights how adharma-driven leadership seeks external support (Bhīṣma) when confronted by the visible suffering of its own forces.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is prevailing and the Kaurava army is being severely pressured. Distressed by this, Duryodhana turns to Bhīṣma and speaks to him, setting up Duryodhana’s appeal/complaint and Bhīṣma’s role as commander and elder counselor.