भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
तथा पाण्डवसैन्यानि द्राव्यमाणानि भारत,भारत! भागती हुई पाण्डव-सेनाएँ कीचड़में फँसी हुई गायोंकी भाँति किसीको अपना रक्षक नहीं पाती थीं। समरभूमिमें बलवान् भीष्मने उन दुर्बल सैनिकोंको चींटियोंकी भाँति मसल डाला
tathā pāṇḍavasainyāni drāvyamāṇāni bhārata |
Sañjaya berkata: “Demikian juga, wahai Bhārata, bala tentera Pāṇḍava yang dihalau mundur dalam pelarian tidak menemui pelindung. Seperti lembu yang terperangkap dalam lumpur, mereka tidak mampu melepaskan diri; dan di medan itu Bhīṣma yang perkasa menghancurkan para askar yang lemah itu seolah-olah mereka semut.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in war, loss of protection and cohesion turns even a large force into helpless victims; strength without support and leadership collapses, and the powerful can overwhelm the weakened—raising ethical reflection on the harsh asymmetry of violence in battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍava troops are being driven back and cannot find a defender; stuck like cattle in mud, they are cut down by the mighty Bhīṣma, who crushes the weakened soldiers like ants.