Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 11 (1.11)

"Bhishmam eva" — Bhishma alone. A commander protects the whole army — but here Duryodhana says the reverse: let the army protect the commander. Why?

Shridhara Svami's answer is straightforward: so that while Bhishma is fighting others, no one can strike him from behind; and "our life rests on Bhishma's strength alone" (bhīṣma-balenaiva asmākaṃ jīvitam). Madhusudana adds: the commander stays in the midst of the army, and a commander absorbed in battle cannot see in front, behind and to the sides all at once — "if the commander is safe, everyone is safe."

Is there anxiety here too? If 1.10 is read in the anxious sense, this order is the practical form of that same anxiety: Duryodhana knows his greatest strength is Bhishma — and perhaps he fears that Bhishma's affection for the Pandavas may weaken him, so keeping him safe and active is most important. In the light of the later story, some teachers also add that Bhishma had a rule of not raising weapons against Shikhandi, so his protection was especially necessary. This is not in the shloka — it is an interpretation drawn from later events.

"Yathābhāgam avasthitāḥ" — hold your positions. At the same time Duryodhana speaks of discipline: no one should leave his post. This is a sensible military order. It would be unfair to paint Duryodhana as a complete fool here — he is an experienced, capable leader, but full of ego and hostility.

"Bhavantaḥ sarva eva" — all of you. Now the address shifts from Drona alone to all the commanders. So this shloka, unlike the personal taunt of 1.3, is more like a public order.