While addressing his troops, preparing them to fight the Epic Battle of the Mahabharata,Duryodhana asks them to protect Bhishma, the Grand Sire, at all costs.
Bhishma is warrior par excellence who challenged even the mighty Parasurama, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu and the duel ended in a stalemate.
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Why such a great warrior has to be protected by the troops?
Bhishmacharya vowed not to bear arms against women.
In the Pandava army there was Sikandi.
She was born to Draupada.
Draupada, being issueless ,prayed Lord Shiva and He granted that Draupada will beget a Girl and later turn into a Boy.
Sikandi was born a Girl, but Dhrupad hid the fact, brought her up as a Man and let it be known that it was a Boy.
The Girl was married off to Hiranyavarma’s daughter.
Hiranyavarma’s daughter came to know that her husband was not a man but a woman.
Humiliated , Sikandi entered the forest with the intention of committing suicide.
There Yaksha,Sthoonakarna , gave Sikandi hid manliness, made him a man for a temporary period.
Sikandi returned Home and made his wife happy .
Meanwhile,Sthoonakarna was cursed to remain as a Girl by Kubera, Lord of Wealth.
Thus Sikandi came to remain as a Man.
Bhishma knew the History of Sikandi , and vowed that he could not bear arms against him as he born a Girl.
This is the reason why Duryodhana wanted Bhishma to be protected by his troops in the sense that Sikandi was to be prevented from nearing Bhishma.(The Bhgagavad Gita 1/10)
Lord Krishna ensured that Sikandi was pitted directly against Bhishma and Arjuna killed Bhishma.
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