Shloka 2
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि धर्मपुत्रस्य शासनात् | अभ्यद्रवन्त गाड़ेयं मर्दयन्तं शितै: शरै:,तदनन्तर धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरकी आज्ञासे समस्त सेनाएँ गंगानन्दन भीष्मपर टूट पड़ीं, जो अपने तीखे बाणोंसे पाण्डव-सेनाका मर्दन कर रहे थे
tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt | abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ mardayantaṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Then, at the command of Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira, all the armies surged forward against Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā. Even as he was cutting down the Pāṇḍava host with sharp arrows, they rushed to confront him—an image of duty-bound warriors acting under rightful leadership amid the harsh demands of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action under legitimate authority: warriors move as one at Yudhiṣṭhira’s command, embodying kṣatriya-dharma—acting decisively in a justly ordered chain of command even when facing a formidable elder like Bhīṣma.
Sañjaya reports that, on Yudhiṣṭhira’s order, the Pāṇḍava forces collectively charge Bhīṣma (Gāṅgeya), who is already inflicting heavy damage on them with sharp arrows; the armies attempt to check and engage him directly.