Shloka 80
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
एवं तदभवद् युद्ध दिवसं भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च पुरस्कृत्य घटोत्कचम्,भरतश्रेष्ठी] इस प्रकार उस दिन दिनभर घटोत्कचको आगे करके कौरवों और पाण्डवोंका युद्ध चलता रहा
sañjaya uvāca | evaṃ tad abhavad yuddha-divasaṃ bharatarṣabha | pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca puraskṛtya ghaṭotkacam ||
Sañjaya dijo: “Así transcurrió aquel día de batalla, oh toro entre los Bharata—mientras Pāṇḍavas y Kurus seguían combatiendo, poniendo a Ghaṭotkaca al frente.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the strategic and psychological weight of placing a powerful champion at the front in war, while also reminding that the battle’s momentum is shaped by leadership choices within the larger framework of kshatriya conflict.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the day’s fighting continued with Ghaṭotkaca positioned as the leading combatant, as the Pandava and Kuru forces battled throughout the day.