Shloka 8
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
स्वै: स्वैरनीकै: सहिता: परिवार्य महारथम् । एते महारथा: सर्वे द्वितीये निर्ययुर्बले,अश्व॒त्थामा, भीष्म, सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ, दाक्षिणात्य नरेश, पाश्चात््य भूपाल और पर्वतीय भूपाल, गान्धारराज शकुनि तथा पूर्व और उत्तरदिशाके नरेश, शक, किरात, यवन, शिबि और वसाति भूपालगण--ये सभी महारथीलोग अपनी-अपनी सेनाओंके साथ महारथी (भीष्म)-को सब ओरसे घेरकर दूसरे सैन्य-दलके रूपमें सुसज्जित होकर निकले
vaiśampāyana uvāca | svaiḥ svair anīkaiḥ sahitāḥ parivārya mahāratham | ete mahārathāḥ sarve dvitīye niryayur bale | aśvatthāmā bhīṣmaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ dākṣiṇātya-nareśāḥ pāścātya-bhūpālāḥ parvatīya-bhūpālāś ca gāndhāra-rājaḥ śakuniḥ tathā pūrva-uttara-diśāṃ nareśāḥ śaka-kirāta-yavana-śibi-vasāti-bhūpālāś ca—ete sarve mahārathinaḥ sva-sva-senābhiḥ sahitā mahārathaṃ (bhīṣmam) sarvataḥ parivārya dvitīya-sainyadala-rūpeṇa susajjitā nirjagmuḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。各々が自軍の部隊に囲まれ、その大戦車武者を護衛しつつ、これらの大戦車武者はみな第二の軍勢として出陣した。自らの軍を率いて、彼らは総大将ビーシュマを四方から取り巻き、規律ある陣形のまま進軍した。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of collective choice in war: many rulers and peoples align themselves under a commander and march in ordered formation. It implicitly underscores kṣatriya-dharma as understood by the participants—duty to one’s alliance and leader—while also reminding the reader that organized power can serve either dharma or adharma depending on the cause it supports.
Vaiśampāyana describes the Kaurava side’s second battle-group moving out. Numerous renowned warriors and regional kings—Aśvatthāmā, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Śakuni, and others—advance with their own troops, surrounding Bhīṣma as the central mahāratha/commander, indicating a structured deployment of forces before the great conflict.