भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
स भीष्म पञज्चविंशत्या कृपं च नवभि: शरै:
sa bhīṣmaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
قال سانجيا: فأصابَ بهيشما بخمسٍ وعشرينَ سهماً، وأصابَ كِرِبا أيضاً بتسعةِ سهام. وتُبرز هذه الواقعةُ دقّةَ القتالِ التي لا تعرفُ رحمةً، حيث لا يُستثنى الشيوخُ الموقَّرون ولا المعلّمون إذا وضعهم الواجبُ والولاءُ في صفّين متقابلين.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the hard edge of kṣatriya-duty in war: when dharma is interpreted through allegiance and battlefield obligation, even venerable elders and teachers become legitimate targets, illustrating the tragic moral complexity of Kurukṣetra.
Sañjaya reports a specific exchange in the battle: a warrior (identified by the surrounding verses) shoots Bhīṣma with twenty-five arrows and Kṛpa with nine, describing the measured, tactical distribution of blows among key Kaurava champions.