Shloka 36
भीमसेनस्य गदायुद्ध-प्रभावः
The Battlefield Impact of Bhīmasena’s Mace Combat
तत् प्रभग्नं बल॑ दृष्टवा पिता देववब्रतस्तव । अब्रवीत् समरे शूरं भारद्वाजं स्मयन्निव,कौरव-सेनाको इस प्रकार भागती देख समरभूमिमें खड़े हुए आपके ताऊ भीष्मने वीरवर आचार्य द्रोणसे मुसकराते हुए-से कहा--
tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitā devavratas tava | abravīt samare śūraṃ bhāradvājaṃ smayann iva ||
جب اس طرح تمہاری فوج کو ٹوٹ کر بھاگتے دیکھا تو میدانِ جنگ میں کھڑے تمہارے پیتامہ دیوورت بھیشم نے، گویا ہلکی سی مسکراہٹ کے ساتھ، بہادر بھاردواج درون سے کہا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield leadership under crisis: an elder commander observes collapse in morale and addresses a key warrior-teacher, implying that steadiness, strategic resolve, and accountability are required when one’s side falters—an aspect of kṣatriya-duty amid ethical tension.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, seeing the Kaurava forces broken and fleeing, turns to Droṇa on the battlefield and speaks to him, seemingly with a smile—setting up a consequential exchange about restoring order and confronting the immediate military setback.