Shloka 9
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
अर्जुनो5पि धनुर्गृह्म गाण्डीवं लोकविश्रुतम् अभ्यधावत तेजस्वी गाज़ेयं रणमूर्धनि,उधरसे महातेजस्वी अर्जुन भी अपना लोकविख्यात गाण्डीव धनुष लेकर युद्धके मुहानेपर गंगानन्दन भीष्मकी ओर दौड़े
sañjaya uvāca | arjuno 'pi dhanur gṛhya gāṇḍīvaṃ lokaviśrutam | abhyadhāvat tejasvī gāṅgeyaṃ raṇamūrdhani ||
Sañjaya berkata: Arjuna juga, setelah mengangkat busur Gāṇḍīva yang termasyhur di seluruh dunia, sang wira yang bersinar itu mara ke hadapan di barisan paling depan medan perang, menuju Bhīṣma, putera Sungai Gaṅgā. Adegan ini menegaskan ketegangan etika perang yang berat: seorang kesatria yang benar tetap wajib maju, walau menentang orang tua yang dihormati, apabila dharma—memelihara tertib dan menunaikan ikrar peranan di medan laga—menuntut demikian.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in action: even when facing a venerable elder like Bhīṣma, a kṣatriya who has entered a righteous battle must not abandon his role. Duty and pledged responsibility can compel painful action, revealing the ethical weight of war.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, seizing his famous bow Gāṇḍīva, rushes to the forefront of the battle and charges toward Bhīṣma (called Gāṅgeya, son of the river Gaṅgā), signaling the escalation of direct combat against the Kuru grandsire.