Shloka 24
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
'गान्धारीनन्दन! अब तुम सुखसे जाकर सो रहो। कल मैं बड़ा भीषण युद्ध करूँगा, जिसकी चर्चा लोग तबतक करते रहेंगे, जबतक कि यह पृथ्वी बनी रहेगी” ।।
sañjaya uvāca | gāndhārīnandana! adya tvaṁ sukhenāgatya svapihi | śvo'haṁ mahābhīṣaṇaṁ yuddhaṁ kariṣyāmi, yasya kathā lokā yāvat pṛthivī tiṣṭhati tāvat kariṣyanti || evam uktaḥ tava sutaḥ nirjagāma janeśvara | abhivādya guruṁ mūrdhnā prayayau svaṁ niveśanam ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó filho de Gāndhārī, vai agora em conforto e dorme. Amanhã travarei uma batalha terrível—cuja história os homens contarão enquanto esta terra perdurar.” Assim interpelado, ó senhor dos homens, teu filho retirou-se. Depois de inclinar a cabeça e prestar reverência ao ancião e mestre, voltou aos seus próprios aposentos.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending violence, social and ethical forms—such as honoring elders and teachers—are maintained; yet the verse also highlights the tragic tension between outward propriety and the inner commitment to a destructive course.
After being told to rest and that a fearsome battle will be fought the next day, Duryodhana departs; he bows respectfully to his elder/teacher (in context, Bhishma) and returns to his own camp.