Shloka 27
भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements
रथं रथेन समरे पीडयित्वा महाबलौ
rathaṃ rathena samare pīḍayitvā mahābalau |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, the two mighty warriors pressed chariot against chariot, each striving to overpower the other. In that fierce exchange they shattered one another’s chariots and horses; and when both were left without chariots, those great fighters sprang forward and continued to confront each other face to face.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfastness in conflict: even when external supports (chariot, horses) are destroyed, the warriors persist. Ethically, it underscores how rivalry and determination can intensify violence, shifting the contest from weapons and vehicles to direct personal confrontation.
Sañjaya reports that two powerful fighters clash by driving their chariots against each other, damaging and destroying each other’s chariots and horses. Once both become chariotless, they continue the fight on foot, leaping and closing in for direct combat.