Shloka 26
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
स तैर्विद्धो महेष्वास: समन्तान्निशितै: शरै:
sa tair viddho maheṣvāsaḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya said: Pierced from every side by those warriors’ keen, razor-edged arrows, the great archer stood fast amid the crush of battle—showing how, in war, even the mighty must endure the consequences of collective hostility and relentless aggression.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line underscores the harsh moral reality of war: prowess does not exempt one from suffering; when conflict escalates, collective aggression brings inevitable consequences, testing a warrior’s endurance and resolve.
Sañjaya describes a key combatant—identified only as a ‘great archer’ here—being hit by sharp arrows coming from every direction, indicating he is surrounded or heavily targeted in the battle.