Shloka 8
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
ततः प्रयात: सहसा भीष्म: शान्तनवोडर्जुनम् | रणे भारतमायान्तमाससाद महाबल:,तदनन्तर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म युद्धभूमिमें सहसा अर्जुनके सामने गये। भरतवंशी भीष्मको आते देख महाबली अर्जुन उनके पास जा पहुँचे
tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo 'rjunam | raṇe bhāratam āyāntam āsasāda mahābalaḥ ||
Kemudian Bhisma, putra Santanu, tiba-tiba maju dan berhadapan dengan Arjuna di medan perang; melihat Bhisma dari wangsa Bharata mendekat, Arjuna yang perkasa pun bergerak menyongsongnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness in duty: even when the opponent is a revered elder or beloved relative, warriors bound by vows and allegiance proceed without hesitation. It underscores the tragic moral complexity of dharma in war—right action is pursued within a framework that still entails sorrowful conflict.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma suddenly advances on the battlefield and comes face-to-face with Arjuna. Arjuna, seeing Bhīṣma approach, moves to meet him, setting the stage for a direct engagement between the grandsire and the foremost Pāṇḍava archer.