Shloka 50
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
भीष्म॑ प्रमुखत: कृत्वा प्रययौ सह सेनया । बड़े भाईकी यह बात सुनकर आपका पुत्र दुःशासन भीष्मको आगे करके सेनाके साथ युद्धके मैदानमें गया || ४९ ई ।। भीष्म तु रथवंशेन दृष्टवा समभिसंवृतम्
bhīṣmaṁ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā prayayau saha senayā | bhīṣma tu rathavaṁśena dṛṣṭvā samabhisaṁvṛtam ||
सञ्जय उवाच— स भीष्मं पुरतः कृत्वा सेनया सह प्रययौ। भीष्मस्तु रथवंशेन समन्तात् सुसंवृतं दृष्ट्वा, समरे यथायोग्यं व्यूहं समालोकयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war proceeds through hierarchy and allegiance: placing Bhīṣma in front signals reliance on an elder’s authority and prowess, while Bhīṣma’s attention to the chariot-array underscores disciplined strategy. Ethically, it shows how personal agency can be shaped by duty to command and the momentum of collective action.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava side advances with Bhīṣma leading. Bhīṣma observes the opposing or surrounding chariot formations, indicating that the armies are now closely drawn up and the engagement is imminent.