Shloka 51
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
अर्जुनो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमुवाच ह । भीष्मको रथोंके समूहसे घिरा हुआ देख रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने धृष्टद्युम्नसे कहा - || ५० ह || शिखण्डिनं नरव्याप्र॑ भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे नूप । स्थापयस्वाद्य पाञज्चाल्य तस्य गोप्ताहमित्युत
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno rathināṃ śreṣṭho dhṛṣṭadyumnam uvāca ha | bhīṣmaṃ rathānīka-samūhena ghṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathināṃ śreṣṭho 'rjuno dhṛṣṭadyumnam uvāca | śikhaṇḍinaṃ nara-vyāghra bhīṣmasya pramukhe nūnam | sthāpayasvādya pāñcālya tasya goptāham ity uvāca ||
三阇耶说道：阿周那——车战勇士之最——见毗湿摩被战车群重重围拢，便对持军主将德里什塔丢摩那说道：“人中之虎，般遮罗王子啊，今日就将尸迦ṇḍin置于毗湿摩之前；我当为其护卫。”此刻阿周那有意布置战术，借毗湿摩之誓与其守义自制之心，欲止息惨烈屠戮，而仍不逾越战场所许之法度。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma in war includes both courage and restraint: Arjuna seeks to stop Bhīṣma’s overwhelming destruction by using a lawful tactical means tied to Bhīṣma’s own ethical vow, while also taking responsibility to protect Śikhaṇḍin.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, seeing Bhīṣma strongly protected within a chariot formation, instructs Dhṛṣṭadyumna to place Śikhaṇḍin at the front facing Bhīṣma, with Arjuna promising to guard him—setting up the maneuver that will allow Bhīṣma to be checked.