Shloka 626
अभ्यधावत कौन्तेयं मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् । महाराज! तदनन्तर भीष्मने दिव्य अस्त्र प्रकट करते हुए वहाँ समस्त धनुर्धरोंके देखते- देखते कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनपर धावा किया
abhya-dhāvat kaunteyaṃ miṣatāṃ sarva-dhanvinām | mahārāja! tad-anantaraṃ bhīṣmaḥ divyāstrāṇi prakaṭayan tatra samasta-dhanurdharāṇāṃ paśyatāṃ paśyatāṃ kuntī-kumāra arjunam prati dhāvāṃ cakāra |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai raja agung, ketika semua pemanah memandang, Bhīṣma meluru ke arah putera Kuntī. Kemudian, sambil menyingkap senjata-senjata samawi, Bhīṣma menyerbu di situ—terang dan tidak terselindung—menentang Arjuna, putera Kuntī, di hadapan seluruh pemanah.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the public, accountable nature of kṣatriya warfare: a renowned elder-warrior (Bhīṣma) openly commits to a decisive engagement, displaying mastery of astras. Ethically, it underscores that power and skill are to be exercised in a visible, rule-bound arena—before witnesses—rather than through concealment or treachery.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, in full view of the assembled archers, suddenly charges Arjuna. As he advances, he reveals/ploys celestial weapons, signaling an intensified phase of the battle focused on confronting Arjuna directly.