Shloka 13
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
(भीष्मो5पि दृष्टवा समरे कृतास्त्रान् स पाण्डवानां रथिनो हरुदारान् | विहाय संग्राममुखे धनंजयं जवेन पार्थ पुनराजगाम ।।
sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmo 'pi dṛṣṭvā samare kṛtāstrān sa pāṇḍavānāṁ rathino hṛdārān | vihāya saṅgrāmamukhe dhanañjayaṁ javena pārtha punar ājagāma ||
三阇耶说道：即便是毗湿摩——虽在战场上亲见那心怀高义的般度族车战勇士们全副武装、列阵在前——仍将他们留在交锋最前沿，疾如风驰，再度回转直赴檀那阇耶（阿周那）而去。此刻凸显毗湿摩用兵之急与其对阿周那的专注：这位关键战士的在场，足以左右战局的胜负与战争的道义取向。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined prioritization of duty in war: even when many worthy opponents stand before him, Bhīṣma chooses the most consequential engagement. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma as strategic responsibility—directing one’s effort where it most affects the course of the conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, seeing the armed and noble Pāṇḍava chariot-fighters at the battle-front, does not remain to fight them then; instead he swiftly leaves them and returns toward Arjuna (Dhanañjaya/Pārtha), indicating a tactical shift and a renewed focus on confronting Arjuna.