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TEXT 11

TEXT 11

Devanagari

Devanagari

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागवमस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ ११ ॥

Text

Texte

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

Synonyms

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.

ayaneṣu: aux points stratégiques; ca: aussi; sarveṣu: partout; yathā-bhāgam: tels qu’assignés; avasthitāḥ: situés; bhīṣmam: à Bhīṣma l’aïeul; eva: certes; abhirakṣantu: devez donner votre appui; bhavantaḥ: vous; sarve: tous, respectivement; eva hi: certainement.

Translation

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.

Maintenant, depuis les différents points stratégiques de notre formation, donnez tous votre appui au vieux maître Bhīṣma.

Purport

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.

Duryodhana se rend compte à présent qu’en exaltant les prouesses de Bhīṣma, les autres combattants risquent de se sentir déconsidérés. Avec la diplomatie qui lui est coutumière, il tente de redresser la situation. Bhīṣma, comme il le souligne, est incontestablement le plus grand des héros, mais c’est un vieillard. Il faut que de tous côtés, on veille à sa protection. L’ennemi pourrait profiter de son plein engagement sur l’un des flancs de l’armée. Il importe que les héros gardent sans défaillance leur position stratégique pour ne donner à l’ennemi aucune chance de percer les lignes. Duryodhana est convaincu que la victoire des Kurus dépend de la présence de Bhīṣmadeva. Le roi ne doute d’ailleurs pas de son entière loyauté qui a déjà fait ses preuves, comme il ne doute pas non plus de celle de Droṇācārya. L’un et l’autre en effet ne dirent rien quand Draupadī, la femme d’Arjuna, fut dévêtue de force en la présence de tous les grands généraux, quand dans sa situation désespérée elle implora leur aide. Bien qu’il sache que les deux généraux éprouvent de l’affection pour les Pāṇḍavas, il espère fort les voir abandonner leurs sentiments comme ils le firent au cours de la partie de dés où Draupadī fut humiliée.