Shloka 1
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! हाथियोंकी उस सेनाके मारे जानेपर आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने समस्त सैनिकोंको आज्ञा दी कि सब मिलकर भीमसेनको मार डालो
Sañjaya uvāca—mahārāja! hastināṁ tāṁ senāṁ hatāṁ dṛṣṭvā tava putro Duryodhanaḥ sarvān sainikān ājñāpayām āsa—sarve miltvā Bhīmasenaṁ jahiṣyatha.
सञ्जय उवाच—महाराज! तस्मिन् गजानीके निहते तव पुत्रो दुर्योधनः सर्वान् सैनिकान् आज्ञापयामास—“सर्वे मिलित्वा भीमसेनं जहि” इति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and fear in war can drive leaders to issue extreme, collective orders against a single opponent. Ethically, it points to the escalation of violence when victory becomes the sole aim, eclipsing restraint and discernment.
After the elephant division is destroyed, Duryodhana reacts by commanding all his troops to unite and focus their attack on Bhimasena, treating Bhima as a decisive threat on the battlefield.