Shloka 5
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
(कथं जयेम भीष्मं वै महाबलपराक्रमम् । बुद्धि स्वशिबिरं गन्तुं चक्रे राजा युधिष्ठिर: ।।
sañjaya uvāca | kathaṃ jayema bhīṣmaṃ vai mahābala-parākramam | buddhiṃ svaśibiraṃ gantuṃ cakre rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || tato ’vahāraṃ sainyānāṃ cakre rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | tathaiva tava sainyānām avahāro ’bhūt tadā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Bagaimanakah mungkin kita menewaskan Bhīṣma, yang memiliki kekuatan dan keberanian luar biasa?” Memikirkan demikian, Raja Yudhiṣṭhira bertekad untuk berundur ke khemahnya sendiri. Lalu Raja Yudhiṣṭhira memerintahkan pasukannya berundur; dan pada saat yang sama, bala tentera tuanku juga mula berundur dari medan perang menuju ke khemah mereka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous cause, a leader must realistically assess strength, morale, and the ethical weight of fighting revered elders like Bhīṣma; strategic withdrawal can be a dharmic choice when it prevents futile loss and allows time for clearer counsel.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, troubled by the question of how to overcome the mighty Bhīṣma, decides to return to camp and orders a withdrawal; seeing this, the Kaurava forces also pull back toward their camp.