Shloka 2
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
ततो युधिष्छिरो राजा संध्यां संदृश्य भारत । वध्यमानं च भीष्मेण त्यक्तास्त्र भयविह्धलम्
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sandhyāṃ sandṛśya bhārata | vadhyamānaṃ ca bhīṣmeṇa tyaktāstra-bhaya-vihvalam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Maka Raja Yudhiṣṭhira, tatkala melihat senja telah tiba, wahai Bhārata, dan melihat bala tentera ditewaskan oleh Bhīṣma—senjata dicampakkan, para prajurit digoncang ketakutan—mengerti bahawa pertempuran hari itu telah mematahkan tekad mereka, dan bahawa berundur dari medan perang ialah langkah yang paling bijaksana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsible kingship in war: a leader must read time and morale, and when troops are panic-stricken and disordered, restraint and withdrawal can be the dharmic, strategic choice rather than forcing further slaughter.
As evening falls, Yudhiṣṭhira observes that Bhīṣma has inflicted heavy losses and that the army has dropped its weapons in fear. Recognizing the collapse of fighting spirit and the onset of twilight, he concludes that continuing the engagement is unwise.