Shloka 1
संजयने कहा--भारत! जब रात बीती और प्रभात हुआ, तब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने अपनी सेनाओंको युद्धभूमिमें चलनेका आदेश दिया
sañjaya uvāca—bhārata! yadā rātriḥ vyatītā prabhātaṃ ca jātaṃ, tadā śāntanunandanaḥ bhīṣmaḥ svāḥ senāḥ yuddhabhūmau prasthātum ājñāpayām āsa.
Sañjaya sprach: „O Bhārata, als die Nacht verstrichen und der Morgen angebrochen war, gab Bhīṣma, der Sohn Śantanus, den Befehl, dass seine Heere auf das Schlachtfeld vorrücken sollten.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of command: once the moment arrives, a leader bound by duty and allegiance must act decisively, even when the action leads into war.
At daybreak, Bhishma—identified by his lineage as Shantanu’s son—orders the Kaurava forces to move onto the battlefield, signaling the transition from preparation to active engagement.