Shloka 23
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
ततो भीष्मो महाराज सर्वलोकमहारथ:
tato bhīṣmo mahārāja sarvalokamahārathaḥ, vikarṇo daśabhir bhallai rājann vivyādha pāṇḍavam |
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അതിനുശേഷം, മഹാരാജാവേ! സർവ്വലോകപ്രസിദ്ധ മഹാരഥൻ ഭീഷ്മനും വികർണനും, രാജാവേ, പാണ്ഡുനന്ദനനായ അർജുനനെ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള ഭല്ലശരങ്ങളാൽ കുത്തിവെച്ചു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: renowned warriors relentlessly strike a principal opponent. Ethically, it underscores the heavy consequence of violence performed under royal and martial duty, reminding the listener that fame and prowess do not remove the moral gravity of harming others.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, celebrated as a supreme chariot-warrior, and Vikarṇa attack Arjuna, wounding him with bhalla-arrows. It is part of the escalating exchange of missiles in the Kurukṣetra battle.