Shloka 16
हते शान्तनवे भीष्मे भरतानां पितामहे । न किंचित् प्रत्यपद्यन्त पुत्रास्तव हि मारिष,आर्य! भरतवंशियोंके पितामह शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मके मारे जानेपर आपके पुत्रोंको कुछ भी नहीं सूझता था
sañjaya uvāca | hate śāntanave bhīṣme bharatānāṁ pitāmahe | na kiñcit pratyapadyanta putrās tava hi māriṣa ||
三阇耶说道：当毗湿摩——商多奴之子、婆罗多族之祖父——被击倒之时，尊者啊，你的诸子竟不能复其镇定，也无法得出任何明晰的对策。那位象征宗族权威与武备秩序的长老一旦倒下，他们的内心便在战争的道义震荡中失了依凭。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the fall of a dharmic elder and stabilizing authority figure can shatter morale and clarity in a crisis. It implicitly contrasts reliance on external pillars (prestige, senior warriors) with the need for inner steadiness and ethical discernment amid the upheaval of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that after Bhīṣma—revered as the Bharatas’ grandsire—was brought down in battle, the Kaurava princes were stunned and directionless, unable to decide their next move or recover their confidence.