Daśame’hani Bhīṣma-yuddham — Śikhaṇḍī-rakṣaṇa, Arjuna-prabhāva, Duryodhana-āśraya-vākyam
तमुद्वीक्ष्य गदाहस्तं ततस्ते गजसादिन:
tam udvīkṣya gadāhastaṃ tatas te gajasādinaḥ
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat dia berdiri di situ dengan gada di tangan, para pahlawan itu—bagaikan pembunuh gajah—lalu menumpukan perhatian kepadanya, bersiap untuk pertembungan ganas seterusnya di medan perang.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic of alertness and readiness: warriors respond to a visible sign of threat (a mace-bearing opponent) with coordinated attention and preparation, underscoring how perception drives action in war.
Sañjaya narrates that, upon noticing a combatant holding a mace, the opposing fighters—described as capable of felling elephants—react and prepare to engage, signaling an imminent clash.