Shloka 386
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
धिक क्षात्रं धर्ममित्युक्त्वा प्रायात् पार्थरथं प्रति । राजन! दुर्योधनके ऐसा कहनेपर आपके पितृ-तुल्य भीष्म “क्षत्रिय-धर्मको धिक्कार है' ऐसा कहकर अर्जुनके रथकी ओर चले
dhik kṣātraṃ dharmam ity uktvā prāyāt pārtharathaṃ prati | rājan!
“ক্ষত্ৰিয়-ধৰ্ম ধিক্!” বুলি কৈ তেওঁ পাৰ্থৰ ৰথৰ ফালে আগবাঢ়িল। ৰাজন, দুঃশাসন—নহয়, দুৰ্যোধনে এনেকৈ কোৱাৰ লগে লগে আপোনাৰ পিতৃতুল্য ভীষ্মে “ক্ষত্ৰিয়-ধৰ্ম ধিক্” বুলি নিন্দা কৰি অৰ্জুনৰ ৰথৰ ফালে যাত্ৰা কৰিলে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain within kṣatriya-dharma: even a great elder like Bhīṣma can momentarily denounce the warrior code when it appears to demand actions that feel morally unbearable. It underscores that dharma is not merely ritual obligation but a lived, often painful moral discernment in crisis.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, after Duryodhana’s words, Bhīṣma exclaims “Fie upon kṣatriya-dharma!” and then proceeds toward Arjuna’s chariot—signaling a decisive movement on the battlefield and an emotionally charged response from the Kuru elder.