Shloka 6
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
एतं हि पुरुषव्याप्रं धनुष्मन्तं महाबलम् | दृष्टत्वा विप्रद्रुतं सैन्यं समरे मार्गणाहतम्,“हाथमें धनुष लिये इन महाबली पुरुषसिंह भीष्मको देखकर और समरभूमिमें इनके बाणोंसे आहत होकर मेरी सारी सेना भागने लगती है
etaṃ hi puruṣavyāghraṃ dhanuṣmantaṃ mahābalam | dṛṣṭvā vipradrutaṃ sainyaṃ samare mārgaṇāhatam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Melihat Bhishma—singa di antara manusia—bersenjatakan busur dan berdaya besar, seluruh bala tenteraku, dipanahnya di medan perang, pun kucar-kacir, barisan pecah dan lari dalam ketakutan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical and practical truth of warfare: morale is as decisive as weapons. A single warrior of extraordinary prowess can cause a collapse of courage and order, showing how leadership, reputation, and visible strength influence collective behavior in battle.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that upon seeing Bhishma—bow in hand and immensely powerful—the Kaurava forces are struck by his arrows and begin to scatter and flee across the battlefield.