Shloka 24
Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)
यच्छिखण्डिमुखा: सर्वे पाण्डवा भीष्ममभ्ययु: । कच्चित् ते कुरव: सर्वे नाजहु: संजयाच्युतम्
yac chikhāṇḍimukhāḥ sarve pāṇḍavā bhīṣmam abhyayuḥ | kaccit te kuravaḥ sarve nājahuḥ sañjayācyutam ||
持国王问道：“当以尸佉ṇḍin为首的般度诸将一齐推进，来攻毗湿摩之时，那一刻，诸俱卢人当真没有抛下这位坚不可动的毗湿摩吗，三阇耶？”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of loyalty and protection of a commander in crisis: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s concern implies that abandoning a steadfast elder-warrior like Bhīṣma at the decisive moment would be a grave failure of kṣatriya duty and collective responsibility.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the battlefield moment when the Pāṇḍavas, with Śikhaṇḍin in front, press their attack on Bhīṣma; he anxiously asks whether the Kuru warriors stood by Bhīṣma or deserted him under pressure.