Free Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition -- Prabhupada Books by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

perfectly protected; paryāptam- limited; tu- but; idam- all these; eteṣām- of the Pāṇḍavas; balam- strength; bhīma- by Bhīma; abhirakṣitam- carefully protected.
    TRANSLATION
    Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhīṣma, whereas the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, carefully protected by Bhīma, is limited.
    PURPORT
    Herein an estimation of comparative strength is made by Duryodhana. He thinks that the strength of his armed forces is immeasurable, being specifically protected by the most experienced general, Grandfather Bhīṣma. On the other hand, the forces of the Pāṇḍavas are limited, being protected by a less experienced general, Bhīma, who is like a fig in the presence of Bhīṣma. Duryodhana was always envious of Bhīma because he knew perfectly well that if he should die at all, he would only be killed by Bhīma. But at the same time, he was confident of his victory on account of the presence of Bhīṣma, who was a far superior general. His conclusion that he would come out of the battle victorious was well ascertained.
    Bg 1.11
    TEXT 11
    TEXT
    ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
    yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
    bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
    bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

    SYNONYMS
    ayaneṣu- in the strategic points; ca- also; sarveṣu- everywhere; yathābhāgam- as they are differently arranged; avasthitāḥ- situated; bhīṣmam- unto Grandfather Bhīṣma; eva- certainly; abhirakṣantu- support may be given; bhavantaḥ- all of you; sarve- respectively; eva- certainly; hi- and exactly.
    TRANSLATION
    Now all of you must give full support to Grandfather Bhīṣma, standing at your respective strategic points in the phalanx of the army.
    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 would 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 strip 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 all such affection would now be completely given up by them, as was customary during the gambling performances.
    Bg 1.12
    TEXT 12
    TEXT
    tasya sañjanayan harṣaṁ
    kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
    siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ
    śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān

    SYNONYMS
    tasya- his; sañjanayan- increasing; harṣam- cheerfulness; kuru-vṛddhaḥ -the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma); pitāmahaḥ- the grandfather; siṁha-nādam- roaring sound, like a lion; vinadya- vibrating; uccaiḥ -very loudly; śaṅkham- conchshell; dadhmau- blew; pratāpavān- the valiant.
    TRANSLATION
    Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly like the sound of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.
    PURPORT
    The grandsire of the Kuru dynasty could understand the inner meaning of the heart of his grandson Duryodhana, and out of his natural compassion for him he tried to cheer him by blowing his conchshell very loudly, befitting his position as a lion. Indirectly, by the symbolism of the conchshell, he informed his depressed