Devanagari
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागवमस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
Synonyms
ayaneṣu
—
in the strategic points
;
ca
—
also
;
sarveṣu
—
everywhere
;
yathā-bhāgam
—
as differently arranged
;
avasthitāḥ
—
situated
;
bhīṣmam
—
unto Grandfather Bhīṣma
;
eva
—
certainly
;
abhirakṣantu
—
should give support
;
bhavantaḥ
—
you
;
sarve
—
all respectively
;
eva hi
—
certainly.
Translation
All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhīṣma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
11. Situated in your positions for attack, you should protect Bhīṣma on all sides.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
11. Situated in your positions for entering the enemy flanks, you should all protect Bhīṣma on all sides.
Purport
Duryodhana, after praising the prowess of Bhīṣma, further considered that others might think that they had been considered less important, so in his usual diplomatic way, he tried to adjust the situation in the above words. He emphasized that Bhīṣmadeva was undoubtedly the greatest hero, but he was an old man, so everyone must especially think of his protection from all sides. He might become engaged in the fight, and the enemy might take advantage of his full engagement on one side. Therefore, it was important that other heroes not leave their strategic positions and allow the enemy to break the phalanx. Duryodhana clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended on the presence of Bhīṣmadeva. He was confident of the full support of Bhīṣmadeva and Droṇācārya in the battle because he well knew that they did not even speak a word when Arjuna’s wife Draupadī, in her helpless condition, had appealed to them for justice while she was being forced to appear naked in the presence of all the great generals in the assembly. Although he knew that the two generals had some sort of affection for the Pāṇḍavas, he hoped that these generals would now completely give it up, as they had done during the gambling performances.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Therefore you should be very careful. Though you are divided into different groups (yathā-bhāgam) for the purpose of entering into the enemy lines (ayaneṣu), you should not give up your designated positions on the battlefield. Being fixed in your respective positions, protect Bhīṣma on all sides, so that he will not be attacked from behind while engaged in fighting with others. The implication here is “Only by the strength of Bhīṣma will we survive.”
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
“If Droṇa understands the meaning of my words, he may become indifferent to fighting himself. This will damage my plans. Therefore I will give him personal responsibility in this war.” Thus he spoke. “You should protect Bhīṣma on all sides by staying in your positions which have been designated individually for entering into the ranks of the enemy troops (āyaneṣu). Act in this way so that he will not be attacked by others, since being absorbed in fighting, he will not be looking on the sides or behind. My victory will be accomplished while Bhīṣma, the general, is unaware of my arrangements.”
The intention is as follows. Bhīṣma is our grandfather. You are our teacher. You two I know to be my fervent well-wishers, for though you knew the injustice I did at the gambling match you did not speak a word when Draupadī asked for justice.” He thus made his request so that Droṇa would give up his trace of affection for the Pāṇḍavas that was still visible.
Surrender Unto Me
Duryodhana here indicates very clearly that the victory depends very much on the presence of Bhisma. And also as an expert diplomat he is showing that the support of the all army is very, very important.