Shloka 22
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश्वैव विकर्णश्र महारथ: । एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमा:
śalyo bhūriśravāś caiva vikarṇaś ca mahārathaḥ | ete sapta maheṣvāsā droṇaputra-purogamāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Śalya, Bhūriśravā, dan Vikarṇa—masing-masing pahlawan kereta perang agung—tujuh pemanah perkasa ini, dipimpin di hadapan oleh putera Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā), berdiri tersusun.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in dharmic conflict, the presence of eminent warriors intensifies both the strategic stakes and the ethical burden: leadership and prowess can magnify the consequences of choices made in war.
Sañjaya is listing prominent Kaurava-side champions—Śalya, Bhūriśravā, Vikarṇa, and others—grouped as ‘seven great archers’ with Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā) at their head, as part of the battlefield description and order of forces.