Shloka 12
भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements
तथेतरांस्तव सुतांस्ताडयामास भारत | शरैर्बहुविधै: संख्ये रुक्मपुड्खै: सुतेजनै:
tathetarāṁs tava sutāṁs tāḍayāmāsa bhārata | śarair bahuvidhaiḥ saṅkhye rukmapuṅkhaiḥ sutejanaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Demikian pula, wahai Bharata, di tengah hiruk-pikuk pertempuran ia menghantam putra-putramu yang lain dengan beraneka panah—berbulu emas dan amat tajam—hingga mereka tersiksa di gelanggang perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic’s war-ethic: in saṅkhya (open battle), a warrior’s prowess manifests through disciplined, effective force. It also highlights the moral weight of conflict—Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons face the tangible consequences of the war they are entangled in.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warrior being described continues his assault, now wounding and pressuring the other Kaurava princes with numerous, extremely sharp, gold-feathered arrows amid the battle.