Shloka 23
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
ततो भीष्मो महाराज सर्वलोकमहारथ:,विकर्णो दशभिर्भल्लै राजन् विव्याध पाण्डवम् | नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर सम्पूर्ण विश्वमें विख्यात महारथी भीष्मने अर्जुनपर सतहत्तर बाण चलाये, द्रोणने पचीस, कृपाचार्यने पचास, दुर्योधनने चौंसठ, शल्यने नौ, जयद्रथने नौ, शकुनिने पाँच तथा विकर्णने दस भल्ल नामक बाणों-द्वारा पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनको बींध डाला
tato bhīṣmo mahārāja sarvalokamahārathaḥ, vikarṇo daśabhir bhallai rājann vivyādha pāṇḍavam |
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces, oh gran rey, Bhīṣma—maharatha célebre en todos los mundos—junto con Vikarṇa, atravesó a Arjuna, hijo de Pāṇḍu, con agudas flechas bhalla. Y los principales campeones de los Kaurava, empeñados en someterlo, lo hirieron una y otra vez: Bhīṣma con 77 flechas, Droṇa con 25, Kṛpa con 50, Duryodhana con 64, Śalya con 9, Jayadratha con 9, Śakuni con 5, y Vikarṇa con 10 bhalla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: renowned warriors relentlessly strike a principal opponent. Ethically, it underscores the heavy consequence of violence performed under royal and martial duty, reminding the listener that fame and prowess do not remove the moral gravity of harming others.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, celebrated as a supreme chariot-warrior, and Vikarṇa attack Arjuna, wounding him with bhalla-arrows. It is part of the escalating exchange of missiles in the Kurukṣetra battle.