Shloka 21
जघान सुबहूंस्तेषां संरब्ध: कुरुसत्तम: । ततस्ते शरणं जम्मुर्देवव्रतमिमं भयात्,रोषमें भरे हुए कुरुश्रेष्ठ भीष्मने जब उनमेंसे बहुत-से राजाओंको मार डाला, तब वे डरके मारे पुनः इन्हीं देवव्रत (भीष्म)-की शरणमें आये
jaghāna subahūṁs teṣāṁ saṁrabdhaḥ kurusattamaḥ | tatas te śaraṇaṁ jagmur devavratam imaṁ bhayāt ||
Dalam kemarahan yang meluap, yang terbaik antara kaum Kuru (Bhīṣma) menumpaskan ramai daripada mereka. Maka raja-raja itu, digoncang ketakutan, kembali mencari perlindungan pada Devavrata (Bhīṣma) ini.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical dynamic in the epic: when confronted by overwhelming force and the consequences of conflict, people often abandon pride and factionalism to seek refuge in the strongest protector. It also reflects how a warrior’s prowess can become the pivot of political allegiance in wartime.
Duryodhana recounts that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), furious in battle, killed many among certain kings; frightened by this, the remaining kings returned and sought Bhīṣma’s protection.