Shloka 8
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
द्रवमाणेषु शूरेषु सोदरेषु तव प्रभो । सूतपुत्रे च राधेये पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम्
sañjaya uvāca |
dravāmāṇeṣu śūreṣu sodareṣu tava prabho |
sūtaputre ca rādhēye paryāptaṃ tan nidarśanam ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: “O panginoon, nang sandaling iyon, ang sarili mong mga kapatid na bayani ay nagsitakas nang magkakagulo—at si Radheya, ang anak ng kutsero (Karna), ay tumalikod din sa larangan. Iyan mismo ay sapat na patunay ng pambihirang lakas ni Arjuna.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how observable conduct in crisis—especially the retreat of renowned warriors—serves as compelling evidence of an opponent’s superior prowess; it also underscores the ethical tension in war between reputation and actual steadfastness under pressure.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that even Dhritarashtra’s own heroic sons and Karna withdrew from the field at a critical moment, and he presents this retreat as a decisive demonstration of Arjuna’s exceptional strength.