Shloka 1
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
संजय कहते हैं--भारत! जब रात बीती और प्रभात हुआ
sañjaya uvāca | drōṇibhūriśravāḥ śalyaś citrasenaś ca māriṣa | putraḥ sāyamanes caiva saubhadraṃ paryavārayan ||
Sañjaya dijo: Oh rey venerable, Aśvatthāmā, hijo de Droṇa, Bhūriśravā, Śalya y Citrasena—junto con el hijo de Sāyamana—rodearon a Abhimanyu, hijo de Subhadrā, y detuvieron su avance. En el clima moral de la guerra, este instante señala una concentración deliberada de fuerza contra un solo héroe juvenil, presagiando las tácticas éticamente turbias que pronto se emplearán en el campo de batalla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power can be marshalled collectively against a single opponent, raising questions of fairness and kṣatriya-ethics in war. It prepares the reader to reflect on where strategy ends and adharma begins when many restrain one, especially a younger warrior.
Sañjaya reports to the king that several prominent Kaurava-side warriors—Aśvatthāmā, Bhūriśravā, Śalya, Citrasena, and Sāyamana’s son—encircle Abhimanyu (Subhadrā’s son) and prevent him from moving forward, setting up the ensuing combat episode.