Shloka 34
Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)
के<रक्षन् दक्षिण चक्र भीष्मस्यामिततेजस: । पृष्ठतः के परान् वीरानपासेधन् यतव्रता:
ke rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ | pṛṣṭhataḥ ke parān vīrān apāsedhan yatavratāḥ ||
ਧ੍ਰਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਅਮਿਤ ਤੇਜ ਵਾਲੇ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਦੇ ਰਥ ਦੇ ਸੱਜੇ ਪਹੀਏ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਿਸ ਨੇ ਕੀਤੀ? ਅਤੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ-ਵ੍ਰਤੀ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਵੀਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਵੈਰੀ ਪੱਖ ਦੇ ਯੋਧਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਣ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਿਆ?
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined duty in war: victory depends not only on a great commander like Bhīṣma but also on coordinated protection—guards at vulnerable points (the chariot wheel) and steadfast rear defense—showing how collective loyalty and restraint sustain a leader’s effectiveness.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the battlefield arrangements around Bhīṣma: which warriors were assigned to protect the right wheel of his chariot and which disciplined fighters stayed behind to block the enemy’s heroes from advancing.