Shloka 9
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
अर्जुनो5पि धनुर्गृह्म गाण्डीवं लोकविश्रुतम् अभ्यधावत तेजस्वी गाज़ेयं रणमूर्धनि,उधरसे महातेजस्वी अर्जुन भी अपना लोकविख्यात गाण्डीव धनुष लेकर युद्धके मुहानेपर गंगानन्दन भीष्मकी ओर दौड़े
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno 'pi dhanur gṛhya gāṇḍīvaṃ lokaviśrutam | abhyadhāvat tejasvī gāṅgeyaṃ raṇamūrdhani ||
Sañjaya said: Arjuna too, taking up the world-renowned bow Gāṇḍīva, the radiant hero rushed to the very front of the battlefield toward Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā. The moment lays bare the war’s grave moral strain: a righteous warrior must advance even against a revered elder when duty to uphold dharma and keep one’s pledged role in battle demands it.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in action: even when facing a venerable elder like Bhīṣma, a kṣatriya who has entered a righteous battle must not abandon his role. Duty and pledged responsibility can compel painful action, revealing the ethical weight of war.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, seizing his famous bow Gāṇḍīva, rushes to the forefront of the battle and charges toward Bhīṣma (called Gāṅgeya, son of the river Gaṅgā), signaling the escalation of direct combat against the Kuru grandsire.