Shloka 23
दृष्टवा च पतितं भीष्म॑ पुत्रो दःशासनस्तव । उत्तमं जवमास्थाय द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्,भीष्मजीको रणभूमिमें गिरा देख आपका वीर पुत्र पुरुषसिंह दुःशासन अपने भाईके भेजनेपर अपनी ही सेनासे घिरा हुआ बड़े वेगसे द्रोणाचार्यकी सेनाकी ओर दौड़ा गया। उस समय वह कौरव-सेनाको विषादमें डाल रहा था
dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanas tava | uttamaṃ javam āsthāya droṇānīkam upādravat ||
सञ्जय उवाच—भीष्मं पतितं दृष्ट्वा तव पुत्रो दुःशासनः। उत्तमं जवमास्थाय द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the fall of a central protector (Bhīṣma) shakes collective morale and forces rapid shifts in command and reliance. Ethically, it underscores the fragility of power built on a single pillar and the battlefield reality that duty-driven action often proceeds amid grief and confusion.
After Bhīṣma is seen fallen, Duḥśāsana reacts immediately by mustering great speed and charging toward Droṇa’s division, indicating a tactical regrouping around Droṇa as the next principal commander, while the Kaurava forces sink into despondency.