Shloka 12
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ । निर्ययु: स्वान्यनीकानि शो भयन्तो रथोत्तमै:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! भीष्मके ऐसा कहनेपर वे सभी भूपाल श्रेष्ठ रथोंद्वारा अपनी सेनाओंकी शोभा बढ़ाते हुए युद्धके लिये प्रस्थित हुए
evam uktā mahīpālā bhīṣmeṇa bharatarṣabha | niryayuḥ svāny anīkāni śobhayanto rathottamaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Setelah ditegur demikian oleh Bhīṣma, wahai permata kaum Bharata, raja-raja itu pun berangkat ke medan perang. Mereka menaiki rata perang terbaik, mara ke hadapan sambil menjadikan bala tentera masing-masing tampak gemilang—tanda tekad kepahlawanan dan kewajipan bersama di bawah seruan panglima.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethic of disciplined response to leadership in a time of crisis: once the commander (Bhīṣma) has spoken, the allied kings act in coordinated readiness. It frames war as an organized, duty-bound undertaking for rulers, emphasizing order, resolve, and collective alignment rather than individual impulse.
After Bhīṣma’s address, the assembled kings of the Kaurava side depart to take their positions for battle. They mount excellent chariots and move out with their respective divisions, making the army’s formations appear splendid as they prepare for the coming engagement.