Shloka 7
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
गान्धारराज: शकुनि: प्राच्योदीच्याश्व सर्वश: । शका: किराता यवना: शिबयो5थ वसातय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | gāndhārarājaḥ śakuniḥ prācyodīcyāś ca sarvaśaḥ | śakāḥ kirātā yavanāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ | aśvatthāmā bhīṣmaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ dākṣiṇātya-nareśāḥ pāścātyā bhūpālāḥ parvatīyāś ca bhūpālāḥ—ete sarve mahārathāḥ sva-sva-senābhiḥ sametāḥ mahārathiṃ (bhīṣmam) sarvataḥ parivārya dvitīya-sainyadala-rūpeṇa susajjitāḥ nirjagmuḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—गान्धारराज शकुनि, पूर्व और उत्तर दिशाओं के नरेश, तथा शक, किरात, यवन, शिबि और वसाति—ये सब भी, अश्वत्थामा, भीष्म और सैन्धव जयद्रथ आदि के साथ, अपनी-अपनी सेनाओं सहित दूसरे सैन्यदल के रूप में युद्ध-व्यूह में निकल पड़े; और महारथी भीष्म को चारों ओर से घेरकर आगे बढ़े।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how large-scale conflict is enabled by deliberate coalition-building and disciplined military organization. Ethically, it underscores that war is not a sudden accident but a planned mobilization of many polities—implying collective responsibility for the escalation toward adharma-driven destruction.
A wide array of kings and warrior-groups—named and regionally classified—assemble with their troops. They form a second battle-division and march out, encircling Bhīṣma as the central great warrior/commander figure, indicating a formal deployment of forces.