Shloka 4
Adhyāya 108 — Nimitta-darśana and Drona’s counsel amid Arjuna’s advance (निमित्तदर्शनं द्रोणोपदेशश्च)
रक्ष्यममाणो हि समरे भीष्मो5स्माकं पितामह: । निहन्यात् समरे यत्तान् पज्चालान् पाण्डवै:ः सह,“वीर! तुम्हें उन महात्मा भीष्मकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये। युद्धमें सुरक्षित रहनेपर हमारे पितामह भीष्म समरांगणमें विजयके लिये प्रयत्न करनेवाले पाण्डवोंसहित पांचालोंका संहार कर डालेंगे
sañjaya uvāca | rakṣyamāṇo hi samare bhīṣmo 'smākaṃ pitāmahaḥ | nihanyāt samare yattān pāñcālān pāṇḍavaiḥ saha |
三阇耶说道：“确然，若毗湿摩——我等祖父——在战阵中得以护持，那么在战场上，他将击杀那些旁遮罗人，并连同为胜利而奋战的般度族一并斩落。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime ethic of protecting a key leader: safeguarding a powerful elder-warrior is presented as decisive for victory. It also implicitly raises the moral tension of relying on overwhelming force—victory is pursued through protection and coordinated violence rather than through reconciliation.
Sañjaya reports counsel from the Kaurava side: if Bhīṣma is kept safe on the battlefield, he can destroy the Pāñcālas along with the Pāṇḍavas who are pressing for victory. The focus is tactical—ensuring Bhīṣma’s protection to enable his dominance in combat.