Shloka 35
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुर्विनद्य जलदो यथा । तालमात्र धनुर्गृद्दा शडुखमभ्यद्रवद् रणे,तदनन्तर महाबाहु भीष्मने मेघके समान गर्जना करके चार हाथ लंबा धनुष लेकर रणभूमिमें शंखपर धावा किया
tato bhīṣmo mahābāhur vinadya jalado yathā | tālamātraṃ dhanur gṛhya śaṅkham abhyadravad raṇe ||
Sanjaya said: Then mighty-armed Bhishma, roaring like a thundercloud, took up a bow of palm-tree length and charged in the battle toward the conch-bearing warrior—his advance proclaiming the fierce onset of war and the unflinching resolve of a commander bound to his chosen side.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic’s ethical tension: warriors act with unwavering resolve within the role they have accepted. Bhishma’s fearsome advance embodies kshatriya steadfastness, even when dharma is complex and loyalties are divided.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma escalating the battle: he roars like a thundercloud, takes up a very long bow, and charges toward the conch-bearing opponent on the battlefield, signaling an aggressive engagement.