Shloka 366
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
स्वयूथादिव ते यूथान्मुक्त भूमिषु दारुणम् । महाबली भीष्मजी अपने झुंडसे बिछुड़े हुए हाथीकी भाँति आपकी सेनासे विलग होकर उस रणभूमिमें अत्यन्त भयंकर हो रहे थे; उनकी मार खाकर सम्पूर्ण शत्रु उन्हें छोड़कर भाग गये
svayūthādiva te yūthān muktaḥ bhūmiṣu dāruṇam | mahābalī bhīṣmaḥ jīvaḥ svayaṃ yūthāt vibhraṣṭa iva hastī yathā tava senāto vilagya raṇabhūmau atyantaṃ bhayānakaḥ abhavat; tasya prahāraiḥ sarve śatravaḥ taṃ vihāya palāyitāḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—स्वयूथादिव ते यूथान्मुक्तो भूमिषु दारुणम्। महाबली भीष्मः स्वसेनातो विलग्य यूथभ्रष्ट इव द्विपः समरेऽतिभीषणोऽभवत्; तस्य प्रहारेण सर्वे शत्रवो विमुखा दुद्रुवुः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how steadfast courage and martial excellence (aligned with kṣatriya-dharma) can uphold an army’s morale: even when isolated, a righteous and powerful warrior can protect his side and cause the enemy to lose heart and retreat.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma becoming separated from the Kuru formation. Like a lone elephant cut off from its herd, he fights with terrifying force on the battlefield, and the enemies—unable to withstand his strikes—leave him and flee.