Shloka 23
दृष्टवा च पतितं भीष्म॑ पुत्रो दःशासनस्तव । उत्तमं जवमास्थाय द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्
dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanas tava | uttamaṃ javam āsthāya droṇānīkam upādravat ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nang makita niyang bumagsak si Bhīṣma, ang iyong anak na si Duḥśāsana, na tinipon ang sukdulang bilis, ay sumugod patungo sa pangkat-pandigma ni Droṇa. Ang tanawing iyon at ang biglaang paglusob ng mandirigmang ito, sa gitna ng kaguluhan ng hukbong Kaurava, ay lalo pang nagpalalim sa panghihina ng loob ng buong sandatahan habang nagpapatuloy ang labanan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the fall of a central protector (Bhīṣma) shakes collective morale and forces rapid shifts in command and reliance. Ethically, it underscores the fragility of power built on a single pillar and the battlefield reality that duty-driven action often proceeds amid grief and confusion.
After Bhīṣma is seen fallen, Duḥśāsana reacts immediately by mustering great speed and charging toward Droṇa’s division, indicating a tactical regrouping around Droṇa as the next principal commander, while the Kaurava forces sink into despondency.