Shloka 119
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
प्रावेपन्त महेष्वासा: शिखण्डिप्रमुखा रथा: । संग्रामभूमिमें शोभा पानेवाले भीष्मजीके द्वारा महाधनुर्धर श्वेतके मारे जानेपर शिखण्डी आदि महाधनुर्धर रथी भयके मारे काँपने लगे || ११८ ह || ततो धनंजयो राजन वार्ष्णेयश्चापि सर्वश:
sañjaya uvāca | prāvepanta maheṣvāsāḥ śikhaṇḍipramukhā rathāḥ | tato dhanañjayo rājan vārṣṇeyaś cāpi sarvaśaḥ |
Wika ni Sañjaya: Nang mapatay ni Bhīṣma ang makapangyarihang mamamanang si Śveta, ang mga dakilang mamamana—mga mandirigmang karwahe na pinangungunahan ni Śikhaṇḍin—ay nanginig sa takot. Pagkaraan, O Hari, dahan-dahang inilayo nina Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) at Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa) ang kanilang hukbo mula sa larangan; at sa sandaling iyon, kapwa ang inyong hukbo at ang hukbo ng mga Pāṇḍava ay nawalan ng gana na ipagpatuloy ang labanan. Ipinakikita ng sipi na ang pagbagsak ng isang huwarang mandirigma ay kayang yumanig sa loob at magbago sa timpla—moral at estratehiko—ng buong hukbo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode underscores that dharma in war is not only personal valor but also steadiness of mind and leadership responsibility: the fall of a key warrior can destabilize collective resolve, and commanders must respond with measured strategy rather than panic.
After Bhīṣma kills the powerful warrior Śveta, Śikhaṇḍin and other great chariot-archers tremble. Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa then pull their forces back gradually, and both the Kaurava and Pāṇḍava armies momentarily lose eagerness for battle.