Shloka 15
भीष्मस्य शरवर्षः — Bhīṣma’s Arrow-Storm and Kṛṣṇa’s Impulse to Intervene
तावकास्तु रणे यत्ता: सहसेना नराधिपा:
sañjaya uvāca | tāvakās tu raṇe yattāḥ sahasenā narādhipāḥ | rājan! bhīṣmam agre kṛtvā pāṇḍavān abhyadhāvayan | naraśreṣṭha! tathā bhīmasenādayo 'pi pāṇḍavāḥ tava senām abhyakrāman ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô roi, tes princes, chacun avec son propre contingent, se tinrent prêts au combat et, plaçant Bhīṣma à leur tête, se ruèrent contre les Pāṇḍava. Ô le meilleur des rois, de même Bhīmasena et les autres Pāṇḍava lancèrent aussi leur assaut contre ton armée.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how allegiance and perceived duty propel both sides into action: leadership (Bhishma at the front) galvanizes troops, while the opposing side responds in kind. Ethically, it frames war as a reciprocal escalation driven by commitment to one’s cause and commander, setting the stage for later reflections on dharma and responsibility.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Kaurava kings, with their forces, advanced against the Pandavas with Bhishma leading. Immediately, Bhima and the other Pandavas counter-advanced and attacked the Kaurava army, marking a synchronized onset of battle.