Shloka 5
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
संजय उवाच हन्त ते*हं प्रवक्ष्यामि संग्रामं लोमहर्षणम् । यथाभूदू् राक्षसेन्द्रस्य सौभद्रस्य च मारिष,संजयने कहा--आर्य! मैं बड़े दुःखके साथ उस रोमांचकारी संग्रामका वर्णन करूँगा, जो राक्षसराज अलम्बुष और सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युमें हुआ था तथा पाएण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन, भीमसेन, नकुल और सहदेवने युद्धमें किस प्रकार पराक्रम किया और उसी प्रकार भीष्म, द्रोण आदि आपके सभी योद्धाओंने निर्भीक-से होकर अद्भुत और विचित्र कर्म किये--यह सब भी मुझसे सुनिये
sañjaya uvāca | hanta te 'haṁ pravakṣyāmi saṅgrāmaṁ lomaharṣaṇam | yathābhūd rākṣasendrasya saubhadrasya ca māriṣa ||
Sanjaya said: Now then, I shall recount to you that battle which made the hair stand on end—how it truly unfolded between the lord of the Rākṣasas and the son of Subhadrā, O venerable one. Listen as I describe the fearful clash in which the young warrior Abhimanyu faced the demon-king Alambuṣa, a scene that reveals both the terrible cost of war and the steadfast resolve of those who fight in accordance with their chosen duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a grave, awe-inspiring reality and emphasizes truthful reporting (yathābhūt—“as it actually happened”). Ethically, it points to the seriousness of kṣatriya conflict: courage and duty are displayed, yet the narration itself acknowledges the terror and cost inherent in battle.
Sanjaya begins a new episode in his report to the king, announcing that he will describe a terrifying combat—specifically, how the fight occurred between the Rākṣasa leader Alambuṣa and Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā.