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Bhagavad-gītā 1.11

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागवमस्थिताः । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ ११ ॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
[ayaneshu cha sarveshu]
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
[yathaa-bhaagam avasthitaah]
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
[bheeshmam evaabhirakshantu]
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
[bhavantah sarva eva hi]
Word-for-word
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 .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
ayaneṣu
in the strategic points
ca
also
sarveṣu
everywhere
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
yathā - bhāgam
as differently arranged
avasthitāḥ
situated
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
bhīṣmam
unto Grandfather Bhīṣma
eva
certainly
abhirakṣantu
should give support
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
bhavantaḥ
you
sarve
all respectively
eva hi
certainly .
Important Words
  • ayaneṣu — in the strategic points
    *Ayana* — a passage, an avenue, a *way*. The same root we meet in *Rāmāyaṇa* ("Rāma's way") and *uttarāyaṇa* (the sun's northward course). Duryodhana speaks of the army's *ways* — every avenue must funnel support to Bhīṣma. The Gītā will reuse this very word for *paths of yoga*.
  • yathā - bhāgam — as differently arranged
    *Yathā* (according to) + *bhāga* (portion, share). Each warrior has his *bhāga*, his allotment. The Gītā later applies this same logic to dharma — each soul has its own *svabhāga* of duty, not transferable to another.
  • abhirakṣantu — should give support, protect
    Same root *abhi-rakṣ* as verse 10. Imperative plural — *let all of you protect Bhīṣma*. Duryodhana asks the protectors to protect the protector. The recursion shows the brittleness of the structure: when one node carries all the weight, every other node exists only to defend that one node.
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.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Duryodhana's command order: every commander must hold his post and, above all, shield Bhīṣma. The doubled 'eva' (alone, indeed) reveals where his real anxiety lies — if Bhīṣma falls, the army collapses. He is already preempting the worst.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Ayana literally 'going, path' — here a technical military term for entry routes or sectors of the battle formation. Yathā-bhāgam is a samāhāra adverbial: each warrior had been assigned a role in the vyūha. The imperative abhirakṣantu (3pl) addressed to bhavantaḥ (you-all) uses the polite-third-person construction. The verse is also taken to show Bhīṣma's strategic centrality — and Duryodhana's awareness of his own vulnerability without Bhīṣma.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
सर्वेषु अयनेषु यथा-भागम् अवस्थिताः भवन्तः सर्वे एव हि भीष्मम् एव अभिरक्षन्तु ।
sarveṣu ayaneṣu yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ bhavantaḥ sarve eva hi bhīṣmam eva abhirakṣantu |
Stationed at every entry point according to your assigned roles, let all of you, indeed, protect Bhīṣma alone.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथा-भागम् अवस्थिताः । भीष्मम् एव अभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्वे एव हि ॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ | bhīṣmam eva abhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarve eva hi ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अयनेषु ayaneṣu अयन (n.) loc.pl. (locative plural) at the points of entry / strategic positions
च ca ind. (indeclinable) and
सर्वेषु sarveṣu सर्व adj. loc.pl. (locative plural)n. all
यथा-भागम् yathā-bhāgam यथा ind. (indeclinable) + भाग (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular), used adverbially according to allocation
अवस्थिताः avasthitāḥ अव+√स्था p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. stationed, posted
भीष्मम् bhīṣmam भीष्म (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Bhīṣma
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic alone
अभिरक्षन्तु abhirakṣantu अभि+√रक्ष् impv. 3pl.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) let them protect
भवन्तः bhavantaḥ भवत् hon. pron. (pronoun) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. your honors (=you all)
सर्वे sarve सर्व adj. nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. all
हि hi ind. (indeclinable) indeed
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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
11. Situated in your positions for attack, you should protect Bhīṣma on all sides.
Commentary

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.”

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
11. Situated in your positions for entering the enemy flanks, you should all protect Bhīṣma on all sides.
Commentary

“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.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

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.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Duryodhana’s actions are described – They reveal his diplomacy and inner fear by the

following indications:

1. Duryodhana although mentioned as king, goes to the commander on account of seriousness of

situation – quite fit to be a politician (1.2)

2. Points out Drona’s mistake (of imparting military secrets to son of Drupada, Dhrstadyumna who was

born to kill Dronacharya) to make him alert and uncompromising and warns that leniency would lead to

defeat (1.3*)

3. Mentions great heros equal to Bhima and Arjuna (1.4*)

Why he compares them to Bhima and Arjuna –
Because he knew the strength of Bhima and Arjuna
Why he mentions other heros –
Because they were great stumbling blocks on the path of victory as each and every one of them was as formidable and Bhima and Arjuna

4. Mentions heros who are ready to lay down their lives for “me” (like Jayadratha, Krtavarma, Salya) (1.9)

5. Praises Bhisma – He was confident of full support of Bhismadeva and Dronacarya because:

They did not protect Draupadi when she was insulted
Although Bhisma and Drona have affection for Pandavas and might become lenient, he hoped that they will give up all affection now (1.11)

6. Asks for everyone’s support for Bhisma (1.11) – because

Bhismadeva was undoubtedly the great hero, but he was an old man and the enemy might take advantage of his full engagement on one side
He wanted everyone to feel important
Focus of Learning

PLEASE NOTE: Some points of these purports are covered under the main theme above

(a) Why Sanjaya described Duryodhana’s actions first –

Because Dhrtarashtra was blind from birth and also bereft of spiritual vision and he knew that his sons were equally blind in the matter of religion
And Dhrtarashtra was afraid that under the influence of the place of pilgrimage, his sons may make some compromise

(b) Study names of warriors on both sides (1.4 – 1.9)

(c) Duryodhana compared Bhisma (more experienced general) to Bhima (less experienced general)

(1.10*)

Because Duryodhana knew if he should die at all he would be killed by Bhima and was therefore always envious of Bhima
Bhima is like a fig in the presence of Bhisma

(d) What made Duryodhana confident of victory (1.7 – 1.11)

Above mentioned strength of his friends (1.7 – 1.9)
Presence of Bhisma, a far superior General than Bhima – He clearly felt that victory of Kurus dependent on the presence of Bhismadeva (1.11)
Confident of full support of Bhisma and Drona as they had shown during Draupadi’s insulting episode (1.11 purport)
SUBSECTION B — SIGNS OF VICTORY OF PANDAVAS (1.12* — 1.20)

COMMON THEME: Sanjaya tactfully informed Dhrtarashtra about “his hopeless plans to win” by giving the

following indications and signs:

SIGNS OF VICTORY OF PANDAVAS (9 points) 1. Krishna’s personal presence confirms victory
Supreme Personality of Godhead is the charioteer (1.14) – “jayas tu pandu-putranam yesam…”
Krishna as Hrsikesha directly controls the senses of a pure devotee

2. Goddess of fortune

Whenever and wherever the Lord is present, the goddess of fortune is also there
She never lives without her husband; therefore all fortune is guaranteed (1.14)

3. Venue

Kurukshetra is a holy place (1.1)

4. Hanumanji on Arjuna’s flag

Hanumanji also helped Lord Rama in gaining victory (1.20)

5. Symbol of Vishnu

Conchshell is a symbol of Vishnu (1.12* & 1.14)
This is indirectly indicated by Bhisma and Pandavas conchshells

6. Transcendental conchshells

Krishna and Arjuna’s conchshell mentioned as divya (transcendental) (1.14)

7. Bhisma’s conchshell to pacify Duryodhana (1.12*)

8. Agnideva’s Chariot given to Arjuna

It was capable of conquering all directions (1.14)

9. Shattering of hearts

Conchshells of Pandavas shattered Kauravas hearts (1.19)
Pandavas hearts not shattered – because of confidence in Krishna
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
1.11 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
1.1 - 1.19 Dhrtarastra said - Sanjaya said Duryodhana, after viewing the forces of Pandavas protected by Bhima, and his own forces protected by Bhisma conveyed his views thus to Drona, his teacher, about the adeacy of Bhima's forces for conering the Kaurava forces and the inadeacy of his own forces for victory against the Pandava forces. He was grief-stricken within. Observing his (Duryodhana's) despondecny, Bhisma, in order to cheer him, roared like a lion, and then blowing his conch, made his side sound their conchs and kettle-drums, which made an uproar as a sign of victory. Then, having heard that great tumult, Arjuna and Sri Krsna the Lord of all lords, who was acting as the charioteer of Arjuna, sitting in their great chariot which was powerful enough to coner the three worlds; blew their divine conchs Srimad Pancajanya and Devadatta. Then, both Yudhisthira and Bhima blew their respective conchs separately. That tumult rent asunder the hearts of your sons, led by Duryodhana. The sons of Dhrtarastra then thought, 'Our cause is almost lost now itself.' So said Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra who was longing for their victory. Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: Then, seeing the Kauravas, who were ready for battle, Arjuna, who had Hanuman, noted for his exploit of burning Lanka, as the emblem on his flag on his chariot, directed his charioteer Sri Krsna, the Supreme Lord-who is overcome by parental love for those who take shelter in Him who is the treasure-house of knowledge, power, lordship, energy, potency and splendour, whose sportive delight brings about the origin, sustentation and dissolution of the entire cosmos at His will, who is the Lord of the senses, who controls in all ways the senses inner and outer of all, superior and inferior - by saying, 'Station my chariot in an appropriate place in order that I may see exactly my enemies who are eager for battle.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
1.11 Ayanesu etc. Paths : rows.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
1.11. "Therefore do ye all, stationed in your respective positions, in the several divisions of the army, protect Bhishma alone."
Commentary

1.11 अयनेषु in the arrays (of the army)? च and? सर्वेषु in all? यथाभागम् according to division? अवस्थिताः being stationed? भीष्मम् Bhishma? एव alone? अभिरक्षन्तु protect? भवन्तः ye? सर्वे all? एव even? हि indeed.No Commentary.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
1.11 However, venerable sirs, all of you without exception, while occupying all the positions in the different directions as alloted (to you respectively), please fully protect Bhisma in particular.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
1.11 Therefore in the rank and file, let stand firm in their posts, according to battalions; and all you generals about Bheeshma.
Related values & verses
Related values
Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 2.3 BG 3.21 BG 18.66 SB 1.9.8 SB 7.9.12 SB 10.64.44 CC Madhya 22.94 CC Madhya 22.100 CC Antya 2.30 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.14Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.18
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Strategic reliance on a single great pillar can be wisdom — or it can be evasion of personal responsibility.
Practical Applications
  • Notice where you outsource spiritual responsibility to one person (guru, teacher, leader) in unhealthy ways.
  • Take up one practice this week that you cannot delegate — your daily japa, your honesty with yourself.
  • Express genuine gratitude to the senior devotees who hold your community together.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom am I leaning on heavily — and is that leaning surrender, or avoidance?
  • What spiritual responsibility have I quietly handed off that I should reclaim?
Analogy

An army that pins its survival on one grandfather's strategic point is like a fleet that has tied every ship to a single anchor. The anchor may hold for a day. But when the wind turns, all ships go down together.

Stories
Śikhaṇḍī, the appointed bow

Bhīṣma was unbreakable so long as no one stood opposite him whom he would refuse to fight. The Pāṇḍavas remembered that, decades earlier, Bhīṣma had vowed never to lift a weapon against a woman — and that Śikhaṇḍī, though now a man, had been born female. On the tenth day of the war, Arjuna shot from behind Śikhaṇḍī's chariot, and the grandsire fell on a bed of arrows.

Duryodhana, in this verse, has staked everything on Bhīṣma. The very next chapters of the war will show that putting all your support on one pillar — however vast — is not strategy but evasion. Real defence is distributed; pinning your dharma on one man's vow leaves you ten days from collapse.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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