Shloka 1
भीष्मस्य सेनापत्यप्रतिज्ञा तथा रथसंख्यावर्णनम् | Bhishma Accepts Command and Enumerates Kaurava Strength
संजय कहते हैं--भरतश्रेष्ठ! दुर्योधनके पूर्वोक्त वचनको सुनकर महायशस्वी अर्जुनने क्रोधसे लाल आँखें करके शकुनिकुमार उलूककी ओर देखा। तत्पश्चात् अपनी विशाल भुजाको ऊपर उठाकर श्रीकृष्णकी ओर देखते हुए उन्होंने कहा--
sañjaya uvāca—bharataśreṣṭha! duryodhanasya pūrvoktaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā mahāyaśasvī arjunaḥ krodhena lohitākṣaḥ śakunikumāram ulūkaṃ prati dadarśa. tataḥ svaṃ vipulaṃ bāhuṃ samutkṣipya śrīkṛṣṇaṃ nirīkṣamāṇaḥ sa uvāca—
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai yang terbaik di antara keturunan Bharata! Mendengar kata-kata Duryodhana sebelumnya, Arjuna yang termasyhur—dengan mata memerah oleh amarah—menatap Ulūka, putra Śakuni. Lalu ia mengangkat lengan perkasa, memandang kepada Śrī Kṛṣṇa, dan berkata—membuka jalan bagi jawaban yang lahir dari murka yang benar di ambang perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how provocative speech and adharma-driven posturing can inflame righteous anger, yet Arjuna’s turning toward Krishna signals that even in wrath, action should be guided by discernment, counsel, and dharma rather than impulsive retaliation.
After hearing Duryodhana’s earlier words (conveyed in this context through Uluka), Arjuna becomes visibly enraged, stares at Uluka, then raises his arm and looks to Krishna as he begins to speak—marking the transition from taunt and message to Pandava reply and readiness for the coming conflict.