Shloka 2
भीष्मस्य सेनापत्यप्रतिज्ञा तथा रथसंख्यावर्णनम् | Bhishma Accepts Command and Enumerates Kaurava Strength
स केशवमभिप्रेक्ष्य गुडाकेशो महायशा: । अभ्यभाषत कैततव्यं प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम्
sa keśavam abhiprekṣya guḍākeśo mahāyaśāḥ | abhyabhāṣata kaitavyaṁ pragṛhya vipulaṁ bhujam ||
Sañjaya said: O best of the Bharatas, after hearing Duryodhana’s earlier words, the illustrious Arjuna—his eyes reddened with anger—looked toward Ulūka, the son of Śakuni. Then, lifting his mighty arm and fixing his gaze upon Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), he spoke words that were fitting to the moment—signaling a resolve to answer deceit with righteous firmness as the crisis moved closer to war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral pivot: when provoked by arrogant or deceitful speech, a righteous warrior should respond with measured, appropriate resolve—seeking guidance from a trusted, dharmic counselor (Kṛṣṇa) rather than acting blindly from anger.
After hearing Duryodhana’s words (conveyed in context by Ulūka), Arjuna becomes visibly angry, looks toward the messenger, then turns to Kṛṣṇa, raises his arm in emphasis, and begins to speak—indicating an imminent, decisive reply as negotiations collapse toward war.