Shloka 13
अथ पुरुषवरौ कृताद्विकौ भवमभिपूज्य यथाविधि प्रभुम् । अरिवधकृतनिश्चयी द्रुतं तव बलमर्जुनकेशवौ सृतौ,तदनन्तर अपराह्नकालके कृत्य समाप्त करके विधिपूर्वक भगवान् शंकरकी पूजा करनेके पश्चात् नरश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन और श्रीकृष्ण शत्रुओंके वधका निश्चय करके तुरंत आपकी सेनापर चढ़ आये
atha puruṣa-varau kṛtādvikau bhavam abhipūjya yathā-vidhi prabhum | ari-vadha-kṛta-niścayī drutaṁ tava balam arjuna-keśavau sṛtau ||
Sañjaya said: Then those two foremost of men, having duly worshipped the Lord Bhava (Śiva) according to prescribed rites, and having firmly resolved upon the destruction of their foes, Arjuna and Keśava swiftly advanced against your army. The episode frames their martial action as proceeding from ritual propriety and deliberate intent, linking devotion and disciplined resolve to the ethics of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a dharmic pattern: action in war is preceded by disciplined observance and reverent worship, suggesting that even violent duty should be undertaken with ritual propriety, inner restraint, and conscious resolve rather than impulse.
After completing the afternoon observances and worshipping Śiva (Bhava) according to rule, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) decide upon enemy-slaying and swiftly advance to attack Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s army.