Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 17
भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः
Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead
भारत! एक साथ आये हुए शत्रुमर्दन बूढ़े नरेश विराट और द्रुपदको क्रोधमें भरे हुए अश्व॒त्थामाने रोक दिया ।।
bhārata! eka-sātha āye hue śatru-mardana vṛddha nareśa virāṭa aura drupada ko krodha meṃ bhare hue aśvatthāmā ne rok diyā. tathā pāṇḍu-sutaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ bhīṣmasya vadha-kāṅkṣiṇam | bhāradvājo raṇe yatto dharma-putram avārayat ||
三阇耶说道：“婆罗多啊，老迈而善摧敌的维罗吒与德鲁帕陀二王同来，怒气冲天；阿湿婆他摩将他们拦住。又在战阵深处，婆罗陀婆阇（德罗纳）竭力遏止达摩之子、般度长子——坚欲诛毗湿摩的尤提施提罗。此景昭示：在自谓合乎正法的怒火与兵略所需之间，资深战士往往被有意牵制或迎击，从而左右这场以法为绳的战争之走向。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharma-framed war, raw anger and heroic impulse must be governed by strategy and restraint; senior warriors deliberately check opponents to protect their side and to control the battle’s moral and tactical trajectory.
Virāṭa and Drupada advance together in anger, but Aśvatthāmā blocks them. At the same time, Droṇa (called Bhāradvāja) actively restrains Yudhiṣṭhira, who is pressing forward with the aim of bringing about Bhīṣma’s death.