Shloka 33
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
तत्र कार्यतमं मन्ये भीष्मस्यैवाभिरक्षणम् | स नो गुप्त: सहाय: स्याद्धन्यात् पार्थाश्व संयुगे,“इस विषयमें मैं भीष्मकी रक्षाको ही अपना प्रधान कर्तव्य समझता हूँ। वे सुरक्षित रहनेपर हमारे सहायक होंगे और संग्रामभूमिमें कुन्तीकुमारोंका वध कर सकेंगे
tatra kāryatamaṁ manye bhīṣmasyaivābhirakṣaṇam | sa no guptaḥ sahāyaḥ syād dhanyāt pārthān raṇasaṁyuge ||
Sañjaya disse: “Neste assunto, considero que o dever mais importante é a proteção de Bhīṣma, e somente dele. Se for mantido em segurança, será nosso amparo e, no campo de batalha, poderá abater os filhos de Pṛthā.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights wartime prioritization: safeguarding a pivotal commander is treated as the highest duty because collective success is believed to depend on that single pillar of strength. It also implicitly raises ethical tension—duty and loyalty are framed in terms of enabling lethal outcomes against kin.
Sañjaya reports a strategic assessment: the Kaurava side should focus on protecting Bhīṣma. If Bhīṣma remains unharmed, he will serve as their main support and is expected to be capable of defeating the Pāṇḍavas in the battle.