Shloka 33
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
भीष्मं शान्तनवं युद्धे स्थिता: पश्याम सर्वश: । कुरुनन्दन! हमलोग भी श्वेतके भयसे महारथी भीष्मको अकेला छोड़कर भाग खड़े हुए। इसीलिये इस समय जीवित रहकर महाराजका दर्शन कर रहे हैं। हम सभी कौरव श्ेतका बाण जहाँतक पहुँच पाता था
bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ yuddhe sthitāḥ paśyāma sarvaśaḥ | kurunandana! vayam api śvetakabhayāt mahārathaṃ bhīṣmam ekalaṃ tyaktvā palāyitāḥ | tasmād idānīṃ jīvitāḥ san mahārājasya darśanaṃ kurmaḥ | vayam sarve kauravāḥ śvetasya bāṇa-yāvat-prāptiṃ dūraṃ laṅghayitvā raṇabhūmau sthitvā darśakavad bhīṣmaṃ śāntanunandanaṃ paśyāmaḥ || adīno dīnasamaye bhīṣmo 'smākaṃ mahāhave, jighāṃsantaṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭha tadā 'sīt tumulaṃ mahat ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “O inapo ni Kuru, nakatayo kami sa larangan ng digmaan at minamasdan si Bhīṣma, anak ni Śāntanu, mula sa lahat ng panig. Tunay, sa takot kay Śveta, iniwan din namin si Bhīṣma—ang dakilang mandirigmang karwahe—na mag-isa at tumakas; kaya kami’y nabubuhay ngayon at nakakaharap ang Inyong Kamahalan. Kaming lahat na Kaurava, nanatili sa labas ng abot ng mga palaso ni Śveta, na wari’y mga manonood lamang, at tinitingnan si Bhīṣma, anak ni Śāntanu. Ngunit hindi nanghina ang loob ni Bhīṣma sa sandaling iyon; nang sumugod sa kanya ang mga pangunahing mandirigma na may hangaring pumatay, sumiklab ang isang napakalawak at nakapanghihilakbot na labanan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts panic-driven self-preservation with steadfastness under pressure: even when allies retreat and danger peaks, a true warrior-leader (Bhīṣma) remains undiscouraged and holds his ground, turning crisis into disciplined action.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the Kauravas, frightened by the Pāṇḍava champion Śveta, withdrew beyond arrow-range and watched from afar, effectively leaving Bhīṣma isolated; nevertheless, Bhīṣma stayed resolute as attackers surged, and a fierce battle broke out.