Shloka 6
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
मुक्तास्तु रथिभिर्बाणा रुक्मपुड्खा: सुतेजस: । संनिपेतुरकुण्ठाग्रा नागेषु च हयेषु च,रथियोंके छोड़े हुए सुवर्णमय पंखयुक्त तेजस्वी बाण कहीं भी कुण्ठित न होकर हाथियों और घोड़ोंपर पड़ने लगे
muktās tu rathibhir bāṇā rukmapuṅkhāḥ sutejasaḥ | saṃnipetur akuṇṭhāgrā nāgeṣu ca hayeṣu ca ||
Sañjaya said: The chariot-warriors loosed arrows—bright with keen brilliance and fitted with golden feathers. Unblunted at their tips, they flew together in volleys and struck down upon elephants and horses, intensifying the ruthless momentum of the battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it highlights how swiftly and effectively martial actions produce immediate consequences. In the epic’s ethical horizon, such vivid battle imagery underscores the gravity of choosing war—once unleashed, violence spreads with unstoppable force and affects even the supporting beings of war (horses and elephants).
Sanjaya reports that chariot-warriors have released volleys of brilliant, gold-fletched arrows. These arrows, with unblunted sharp tips, strike elephants and horses on the battlefield, conveying the intensity and lethal efficiency of the ongoing combat.