Shloka 72
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
तान्यनीकान्यथालोक्य राक्षसेन्द्र: प्रतापवान्
tāny anīkāny athālokya rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
તે સેનાવ્યૂહોને યથાવત જોઈ, પ્રતાપી રાક્ષસેન્દ્ર (ઘટોત્કચ) વિરોધી દળની ગોઠવણી નિહાળવા લાગ્યો।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of warfare: a leader must first clearly perceive the situation—enemy formations and readiness—before acting. It underscores responsibility and strategic awareness as part of martial duty, rather than impulsive violence.
Sañjaya narrates that a powerful Rākṣasa leader, upon seeing the assembled battle-formations, surveys them—marking a moment of appraisal and preparation just before ensuing action in the war setting.