Shloka 50
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
युधिष्ठिरं तु कौन्तेयं महत्या सेनया वृतम् । भीष्माभिमुखमायान्तं भारद्वाजो न्यवारयत्
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tu kaunteyaṃ mahatyā senayā vṛtam | bhīṣmābhimukham āyāntaṃ bhāradvājo nyavārayat || (tatra yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ |)
युधिष्ठिरं तु कौन्तेयं महत्या सेनया वृतम्। भीष्माभिमुखमायान्तं भारद्वाजो न्यवारयत्॥ (तत्र युद्धमभूद् घोरं तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः।)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma in wartime: even a ruler devoted to righteousness (Yudhiṣṭhira) must engage in violence when bound by kṣatriya duty and the larger demands of protecting order and fulfilling responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira, backed by a large force, advances toward Bhīṣma. Droṇa intervenes and halts him, leading to a fierce duel-like engagement between these two eminent warriors.