Shloka 67
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
तथैव पाण्डवं युद्धे देवेरपि दुरासदम्
sañjaya uvāca | tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe devair api durāsadam | īśī-prakāraṃ bhīṣmaḥ api yuddhe devatānām api durjayaṃ gāṇḍīvadhāriṇaṃ pāṇḍuputram arjunaṃ jetuṃ na samartho bhaviṣyati | yadi etau ubhau yudhyeyātām, yāvat ayaṃ saṃsāraḥ tiṣṭhati tāvat etayoḥ yuddhaṃ samānarūpeṇaiva pravarteta ||
قال سنجيا: ومع ذلك، فإن الباندڤا—أرجونا حامل قوس غانديڤا—سيكون في ساحة القتال عصيًّا حتى على الآلهة. وكذلك فإن بهِيشما لن يقدر على قهره في الحرب. ولو واصل الاثنان القتال، فبقدر ما يدوم هذا العالم سيدوم نزالهما في توازنٍ متكافئ، لا ينال أحدهما سيادةً حاسمة على الآخر.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of even the greatest warriors: certain opponents are so evenly matched that victory is not merely a matter of strength. It underscores a moral realism in war—prowess exists, but decisive conquest may be constrained by destiny, divine-like resilience, and parity of merit.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Arjuna, armed with the Gandiva, is virtually unassailable—even by the gods—and that Bhishma cannot truly overcome him. If Bhishma and Arjuna were to continue fighting without interruption, their battle would remain stalemated, continuing in equal measure for as long as the world lasts.