Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 22
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
यतो यतः प्रेक्षते सम गदामुद्यम्य पाण्डव: । तेन तेन सम दीर्यन्ते सर्वसैन्यानि भारत
yato yataḥ prekṣate sa gadām udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ | tena tena sama dīryante sarvasainyāni bhārata ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—ஓ பாரதா! கதையை உயர்த்திப் பிடித்த பாண்டவன் பீமசேனன் எத்திசை நோக்கினானோ, அத்திசையிலேயே எல்லாச் சேனைகளின் வரிசைகளும் பிளந்து போயின।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner force—courage, resolve, and reputation—can shape outcomes in war: morale collapses when confronted by a formidable warrior. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal of decisive action, while also revealing the human cost of fear and the fragility of massed violence.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma on the battlefield: with mace raised, he scans the field, and wherever he turns his attention the opposing ranks break and scatter, leaving gaps as soldiers flee or give ground.
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