1.11. Commentary: "Ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu... bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi" – All you warriors, firmly stationed at the very positions assigned to you on all fronts, must protect Bhīṣma from all sides and in every manner.
By saying "protect Bhīṣma from all sides," Duryodhana wishes to inwardly draw Bhīṣma to his own side. Another intent behind this statement is that when Bhīṣma fights, you must ensure that Śikhaṇḍī does not confront him through any formation gate. If Śikhaṇḍī comes before him, Bhīṣma will not wield weapons against him. The reason is that Śikhaṇḍī was a woman in his previous birth, and in this birth too, he was first a woman and later became a man. Therefore, Bhīṣma considers him a woman and has vowed not to fight Śikhaṇḍī. This Śikhaṇḍī was born solely to kill Bhīṣma by the boon of Śaṅkara. Thus, if Bhīṣma is protected from Śikhaṇḍī, then he will slay everyone else, ensuring our certain victory. Holding this view, Duryodhana is instructing all the great warriors to protect Bhīṣma.
Context: Observing that Duryodhana's mental enthusiasm was dampened due to Droṇācārya's silence, Sañjaya reveals in the following verse the affection and goodwill shown by Bhīṣma towards him.
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