Shloka 1
भीमसेनस्य प्रतिघातः—भगदत्तगजप्रहारः—घटोत्कचमायायुद्धम्
Bhīma’s Counteroffensive, Bhagadatta’s Elephant Assault, and Ghaṭotkaca’s Māyā Engagement
संजयने कहा--भारत! जब रात बीती और प्रभात हुआ, तब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने अपनी सेनाओंको युद्धभूमिमें चलनेका आदेश दिया
sañjaya uvāca—bhārata! yadā rātriḥ vyatītā prabhātaṃ ca jātaṃ, tadā śāntanunandanaḥ bhīṣmaḥ svāḥ senāḥ yuddhabhūmau prasthātum ājñāpayām āsa.
Sañjaya dijo: «¡Oh Bhārata!, cuando la noche hubo pasado y llegó el alba, Bhīṣma, hijo de Śantanu, dio la orden de que sus ejércitos avanzaran hacia el campo de batalla.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical burden of command: once the moment arrives, a leader bound by duty and allegiance must act decisively, even when the action leads into war.
At daybreak, Bhishma—identified by his lineage as Shantanu’s son—orders the Kaurava forces to move onto the battlefield, signaling the transition from preparation to active engagement.