Shloka 36
Bhīṣma’s Fall, the Arrow-bed (śara-talpa), and the Establishment of Guard
'सेनाके प्रमुख भागमें हाहाकार और किलकिलाहटके शब्द सुनायी देते हैं। तुम द्रपदकुमार धृष्टद्युम्मका सामना करनेके लिये जाओ और मैं युधिष्ठिरपर चढ़ाई करूँगा ।। दुर्गमं ह्ान्तरं राज्ञो व्यूहस्यामिततेजस: । समुद्रकुक्षिप्रतिमं सर्वतोडतिरथै: स्थितै:,“अमित तेजस्वी राजा युधिष्ठिरके व्यूहके भीतर प्रवेश करना समुद्रके अंदर प्रवेश करनेके समान बहुत कठिन है; क्योंकि उनके चारों ओर अतिरथी योद्धा खड़े हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
senāke pramukha bhāgameṃ hāhākāra aura kilakilāhaṭake śabda sunāyī dete haiṃ | tuma drapadakumāra dhṛṣṭadyummakā sāmānā karane ke liye jāo aura maiṃ yudhiṣṭhirapara caṛhāī karūṃ ||
durgamaṃ hy antaraṃ rājño vyūhasyāmitatejasaḥ |
samudrakukṣipratimaṃ sarvato ’tirathaiḥ sthitaiḥ ||
Санджая сказал: «С переднего края войска слышны крики тревоги и громкие боевые возгласы. Ступай и сразись с Дхриштадьюмной, сыном Друпады, а я усилю натиск на Юдхиштхиру. Ибо проникнуть во внутреннее пространство боевого построения царя, сияющего несравненной мощью, чрезвычайно трудно — словно войти в чрево океана, — ведь со всех сторон оно окружено великими колесничими-ратниками.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical weight of leadership in war: a righteous king’s position is protected not merely by force but by disciplined order and loyal guardianship. It also underscores prudence—recognizing when an objective is ‘durgama’ (hard to penetrate) and requires strategy rather than reckless assault.
Sañjaya reports intense noise and turmoil at the front. A commander issues tactical instructions: one warrior should engage Dhṛṣṭadyumna, while the speaker intends to attack Yudhiṣṭhira. Yet Yudhiṣṭhira’s formation is described as extremely difficult to enter, surrounded on all sides by elite chariot-fighters, likened to entering the ocean’s depths.