Shloka 17
भीष्मशिबिरगमनम् — Duryodhana’s Visit to Bhīṣma’s Camp and the Command Appeal
युद्धकाले त्वयास्माकं साहां देयमिति प्रभो । बाढमित्येवमुक्त्वा तु युद्धकाल इहागत:
yuddhakāle tvayāsmākaṃ sāhāṃ deyam iti prabho | bāḍham ity evam uktvā tu yuddhakāla iha āgataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O panginoon, sa oras ng digmaan ay dapat mo kaming tulungan.” Pagkasagot niya ng “Gayon nga,” siya’y umalis; at ngayon, sa sandali ng labanan, narito siya—tinutupad ang ipinangakong saklolo kapag ang tungkulin ay tumawag.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as reliability in word and deed: assistance promised for a righteous obligation must be delivered when the decisive moment arrives, especially in the moral pressure of war.
Sañjaya reports that Irāvān had earlier been asked to support their side during the battle; he agreed (“bāḍham”) and now has arrived at the battlefield at the appointed time to provide that aid.