Shloka 79
नीतानमन्यन्त जना दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम् । उस समय लोगोंने भीष्मका अद्भुत पराक्रम देखकर यह मान लिया कि युद्धके मैदानमें जितने योद्धा उपस्थित हैं, वे सब यमराजके लोकमें गये हुएके ही समान हैं || ७८ ह ।।
nītān amanyanta janā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam | na kaścid enaṃ samare pratyudyāti mahārathaḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—भीष्मस्य विक्रमं दृष्ट्वा जनाः सर्वेऽमन्यन्त, यत् रणमध्यस्थाः सर्वे योधाः यमलोकं गतप्रायाः। न च कश्चिद् महारथः समरे तं प्रत्युद्याति—ऋते पाण्डुनन्दनं अर्जुनं कृष्णसारथिं श्वेताश्वयुक्तरथं, तथा पाञ्चालराजपुत्रं शिखण्डिनं अमितौजसम्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power can overwhelm collective courage, yet dharma in war requires certain individuals to face danger despite fear. It also points to the ethical tension of battle: even the righteous may feel as if death is inevitable, but duty and strategy still demand action.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma’s onslaught is so formidable that the fighters feel as though they are already destined for Yama’s realm. Virtually no mahāratha dares to confront Bhīṣma directly, except Arjuna (with Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and white horses) and Śikhaṇḍin of Pāñcāla.