Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि ते<न्योन्यस्य विशाम्पते । युयुधु: पाण्डवाश्वैव कौरवाश्व॒ महाबला:
pratisaṃvārya cāstrāṇi te 'nyonyasya viśāmpate | yuyudhuḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kauravāś ca mahābalāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai junjungan manusia! Setelah saling menangkis dan menahan senjata-missil satu sama lain, para Pāṇḍava yang perkasa dan para Kaurava yang perkasa terus bertempur; seiring pertempuran mendesak maju, tiap serangan disambut dengan penangkal yang setimpal.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined martial conduct: even amid violence, combat is portrayed as governed by skill, restraint, and response—each side meeting weapons with countermeasures rather than uncontrolled rage, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of regulated warfare.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍava and Kaurava warriors, all very strong, are actively engaged in battle, mutually parrying and neutralizing each other’s missiles as the fight continues.