Shloka 7
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
तथा प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे धनुरुद्यम्य दंशित: । अभिपत्य महाबाहुर्भीष्मो भीमपराक्रम:
tathā pravṛtte saṅgrāme dhanur udyamya daṃśitaḥ | abhipatya mahābāhur bhīṣmo bhīmaparākramaḥ ||
इस प्रकार संग्राम प्रवृत्त होते ही, महाबाहु और भीम-पराक्रमी भीष्म ने धनुष उठाया, कवच बाँधा और वेग से आगे बढ़कर शत्रु-पक्ष के अग्रणी वीरों पर बाणों की वर्षा करने लगे।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of duty and allegiance in wartime: once conflict begins, even revered elders like Bhishma act decisively as warriors, illustrating the stern demands of kshatriya-dharma and the moral weight of choices that set war in motion.
Sanjaya describes the opening surge of battle: Bhishma arms himself—raising his bow and wearing armor—and charges forward to attack the opposing side with a fierce volley of arrows.