Shloka 78
यः सम्प्राप्य रणे भीष्म जीविते सम मनो दथे । राजन! उस समय सोमकोंमें एक भी महारथी ऐसा नहीं था, जो युद्धभूमिमें भीष्मके पास पहुँचकर अपने मनमें जीवन-रक्षाकी आशा रखता हो || ७७ $ ।।
yaḥ samprāpya raṇe bhīṣmaṁ jīvite sama-mano dadhe | rājan! tadā somakeṣu naiko 'pi mahā-rathī yuddha-bhūmau bhīṣmasya samīpaṁ prāpya manasi jīvana-rakṣāyā āśāṁ dadhāna āsīt || tāṁś ca sarvān raṇe yodhān pretarāja-puraṁ prati ||
Wika ni Sanjaya: “O Hari, noong panahong iyon sa hanay ng mga Somaka ay wala ni isang dakilang mandirigmang may karwaheng pandigma na, pagdating kay Bhishma sa larangan, ay makapananatiling nakatuon ang isip sa pagkaligtas o makapag-ingat ng pag-asang maililigtas ang buhay. Ang lahat ng mga mandirigmang iyon sa labang yaon ay wari’y itinutulak patungo sa lungsod ng Panginoon ng Kamatayan, si Yama.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: when a warrior like Bhishma dominates the field, even the strongest lose hope of self-preservation, highlighting impermanence of life and the inevitability of death (Yama) amid kshatriya duty.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Bhishma’s presence in battle is so overwhelming that none among the Somaka great warriors can approach him while still expecting to survive; the fighting is portrayed as sending warriors toward Yama’s abode.