Shloka 11
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
सादिनो ध्वजिनश्लवैव हता: प्रवरवाजिन: । विप्रद्रुतरथानीका: समपद्यन्त पाण्डवा:,घुड़सवार, ध्वजा धारण करनेवाले सैनिक तथा उत्तम घोड़े मारे गये। पाण्डवोंकी रथ- सेना पलायन करने लगी
sādino dhvajinaś caiva hatāḥ pravaravājinaḥ | vipradrutarathānīkāḥ samapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ ||
കുതിരസേനയും ധ്വജധാരികളും വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ കുതിരകളും നശിച്ചു. രഥനിരകൾ കലങ്ങി ചിതറി ഓടിത്തുടങ്ങിയപ്പോൾ പാണ്ഡവസേന അക്രമത്തിലായി।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the instability of worldly power in war: when crucial supports—elite horses, cavalry, and standard-bearers that sustain morale and cohesion—are destroyed, even a strong force can quickly lose formation and confidence. It implicitly points to the ethical gravity of battle (kṣatriya-dharma) and the need for steadiness amid reversals.
Sañjaya reports that horsemen and flag-bearers have been killed and the best horses slain. As a result, the Pāṇḍavas’ chariot divisions are driven into flight and their army falls into disarray, indicating a moment of tactical setback and collapsing formation.