Shloka 50
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
युधिष्ठिरं तु कौन्तेयं महत्या सेनया वृतम् । भीष्माभिमुखमायान्तं भारद्वाजो न्यवारयत्
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tu kaunteyaṃ mahatyā senayā vṛtam | bhīṣmābhimukham āyāntaṃ bhāradvājo nyavārayat || (tatra yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ |)
Sabi ni Sañjaya: Nang makita ni Droṇācārya (anak ni Bharadvāja) si Yudhiṣṭhira, anak ni Kuntī, na napapaligiran ng napakalaking hukbo at tuwirang sumusugod kay Bhīṣma, pinigil niya ang pag-abante nito. Doon, sa pagitan ng dalawang lalaking tila mga leon, sumiklab ang isang mabangis na labanan—patunay na sa digmaan, kahit ang pinakamasinop sa dharma ay napipilitang humarap sa dahas dahil sa tungkulin at pagkakataon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma in wartime: even a ruler devoted to righteousness (Yudhiṣṭhira) must engage in violence when bound by kṣatriya duty and the larger demands of protecting order and fulfilling responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira, backed by a large force, advances toward Bhīṣma. Droṇa intervenes and halts him, leading to a fierce duel-like engagement between these two eminent warriors.