Shloka 25
ततस्तु तावका: शूरा: पुरस्कृत्य महाव्रतम् । शिखण्डिप्रमुखान् पार्थान् योधयन्ति सम संयुगे,तदनन्तर आपके पक्षके शूरवीर सैनिक महाव्रती भीष्मको आगे करके रणक्षेत्रमें शिखण्डी आदि पाण्डवसैनिकोंके साथ युद्ध करने लगे
tatastu tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ puraskṛtya mahāvratam | śikhaṇḍipramukhān pārthān yodhayanti samaṃ yuge ||
ततस्तु तावकाः शूराः पुरस्कृत्य महाव्रतम् । शिखण्डिप्रमुखान् पार्थान् योधयन्ति समे युगे ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal vows and moral stature (Bhīṣma as mahāvrata) become sources of legitimacy and cohesion in war, even when the conflict itself is ethically fraught. It suggests that leadership in dharmic literature is not merely tactical but also grounded in character, restraint, and publicly recognized commitments.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava warriors advance with Bhīṣma at their head and begin fighting the Pāṇḍava side, whose front is marked by Śikhaṇḍin and others. It situates the battle lines and signals the central confrontation involving Bhīṣma and the forces arrayed against him.