Shloka 8
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
द्रवमाणेषु शूरेषु सोदरेषु तव प्रभो । सूतपुत्रे च राधेये पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्
sañjaya uvāca |
dravāmāṇeṣu śūreṣu sodareṣu tava prabho |
sūtaputre ca rādhēye paryāptaṃ tan nidarśanam ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó senhor, quando teus próprios irmãos, embora valentes, fugiam em desordem—e quando Rādheya, o filho do cocheiro (Karna), também se afastou do campo—isso mesmo é prova suficiente do poder extraordinário de Arjuna.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how observable conduct in crisis—especially the retreat of renowned warriors—serves as compelling evidence of an opponent’s superior prowess; it also underscores the ethical tension in war between reputation and actual steadfastness under pressure.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that even Dhritarashtra’s own heroic sons and Karna withdrew from the field at a critical moment, and he presents this retreat as a decisive demonstration of Arjuna’s exceptional strength.