Shloka 18
Adhyāya 92: Irāvanta-śoka, punaḥ-pravṛttiḥ saṅgrāmasya
Arjuna’s grief and the battle’s renewed intensity
केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च कुन्तिभोजश्न दंशित: । युक्तानीका महाराज भीष्ममेव समभ्ययु:,नरेश्वर! केकय, धृष्टकेतु और कवचधारी कुन्तिभोज--इन सबने अपनी सेनाओंके साथ भीष्मपर ही धावा किया
kekayā dhṛṣṭaketuś ca kuntibhojaś ca daṃśitaḥ | yuktānīkā mahārāja bhīṣmam eva samabhyayuḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô grand roi, les Kékayas, Dhṛṣṭaketu et Kuntibhoja, revêtu d’armure—leurs formations dûment ordonnées—avancèrent ensemble et chargèrent droit sur Bhīṣma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined collective effort and strategic focus in warfare: organized forces concentrate on the opponent’s strongest pillar (Bhīṣma). Ethically, it reflects the tension of Kurukṣetra—duty-driven combat where even revered elders become targets due to allegiance and the demands of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kekaya contingent, along with Dhṛṣṭaketu and the armored Kuntibhoja, advance in proper formation and launch a direct assault on Bhīṣma, indicating a coordinated attempt to engage and possibly neutralize the Kaurava commander.