Shloka 356
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
नाशवनुवन् वारयितुं भीष्मबाणप्रपीडितान् । वे सब वीर वहाँ मौजूद होते हुए भी भीष्मके बाणोंसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित होकर भागते हुए अपने महारथियोंको रोकनेमें समर्थ न हो सके
sañjaya uvāca | nāśakanuvan vārayituṃ bhīṣmabāṇaprapīḍitān | te sarve vīrāḥ tatra maujūdaḥ santo 'pi bhīṣmasya bāṇaiḥ atyantaṃ pīḍitāḥ palāyamānāḥ svān mahārathīn vārayituṃ na śekuḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—भीष्मबाणप्रपीडितान् तान् वारयितुं नाशक्नुवन्। बहवोऽपि वीराः तत्र सन्निहिताः, भीष्मशरवेगेनाभिभूताः पलायमानाः, स्वानपि महारथान् निवारयितुं न समर्था बभूवुः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even celebrated warriors can fail in their duty when morale collapses; the episode highlights the ethical demand of steadiness (dhairya) and disciplined leadership in war, and how overwhelming force can expose human limitation.
Sanjaya reports that Bhishma’s arrow-barrage is so severe that fighters begin to flee, and those present—despite being valiant—cannot stop or rally their own elite chariot-warriors from retreating.