Shloka 77
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
तन्न मे रोचते युद्ध पाण्डवैर्जितकाशिभि: । घुष्यतामवहारोड्द्य श्वो योत्स्याम: परै:ः सह,“इसलिये विजयसे सुशोभित होनेवाले पाण्डवोंके साथ इस समय युद्ध करना मुझे पसंद नहीं आता। आज युद्धका विराम घोषित कर दिया जाय। कल सबेरे हमलोग शत्रुओंके साथ युद्ध करेंगे”
tan na me rocate yuddhaṃ pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ | ghuṣyatām avahāro 'dya śvo yotsyāmaḥ paraiḥ saha ||
Sañjaya said: “This battle does not please me now—against the Pāṇḍavas who are radiant with victory. Let a cessation of fighting be proclaimed today; tomorrow morning we shall engage the enemy in war.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudence in warfare: when the opponent is buoyed by victory and momentum, it may be wiser to suspend fighting, regroup, and re-engage under more favorable conditions—an ethical-strategic restraint rather than blind persistence.
Sañjaya reports a decision or sentiment that fighting the Pāṇḍavas at that moment is undesirable; he calls for announcing a halt to combat for the day, with the intention to resume battle the next morning against the enemy.