भीष्मे शान्तनवे नाथे कर्णे शस्त्रभृतां वरे
bhīṣme śāntanave nāthe karṇe śastrabhṛtāṃ vare
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika Bhīṣma putra Śāntanu, sang pelindung dan tumpuan, dan Karṇa, yang utama di antara para pemanggul senjata, (memegang pimpinan)…
संजय उवाच
The line foregrounds the ethical weight of martial leadership: figures like Bhīṣma (as a protective lord) and Karṇa (as the foremost weapon-bearer) embody the kṣatriya ideal of guardianship and prowess, reminding the listener that war turns on the character and responsibility of those who lead.
Sañjaya is describing a battlefield situation by highlighting key champions—Bhīṣma, identified by his lineage from Śāntanu, and Karṇa, praised as the best among armed warriors—setting the stage for the ensuing action in the Shalya Parva account.