Text 11

ayanesu ca sarveshu
yatha-bhagam avasthitah
bhismam evabhirakshantu
bhavantah sarva eva hi

Translation

All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhishma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada

Duryodhana, after praising the prowess of Bhishma, 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 Bhishmadeva 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 Bhishmadeva. He was confident of the full support of Bhishmadeva and Dronacarya in the battle because he well knew that they did not even speak a word when Arjuna’s wife Draupadi, 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 Pandavas, he hoped that these generals would now completely give it up, as they had done during the gambling performances.

Commentary by Sri Vishwanatha Chakravarthi Thakur

Therefore you should be very careful. Though you are divided into different groups (yatha bhagam) for the purpose of entering into the enemy lines (ayanesu), you should not give up your designated positions on the battlefield. Being fixed in your respective positions, protect Bhisma on all sides, so that he is not attacked from behind while engaged in fighting with others. The implication here is “Only by the strength of Bhisma will we survive.”