Shloka 2
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
संजय उवाच (तावका: पाण्डवै: सार्थ यथायुध्यन्त तच्छूणु ।) समं॑ व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु संनद्धरुचिरध्वजम् । अपारमिव संदृश्य सागरप्रतिमं बलम्
sañjaya uvāca | tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ yathāyudhyanta tac chṛṇu | samaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu saṃnaddha-rucira-dhvajam | apāram iva saṃdṛśya sāgara-pratimaṃ balam |
Sanjaya berkata: “Dengarlah bagaimana putera-puteramu bertempur bersama para Pāṇḍava. Setelah formasi pertempuran kedua-dua bala tentera tersusun sepenuhnya, seluruh angkatan—para pahlawan berzirah dengan panji-panji indah berkibar—tampak bagaikan lautan luas tanpa tepi. Melihat kekuatan laksana samudera itu tersusun untuk perang, Duryodhana, berdiri di tengah para askar, menggesa para wira berzirahnya supaya memulakan pertempuran.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as an organized, collective undertaking shaped by leadership and martial duty: once formations are set, the massed force becomes overwhelming like an ocean, and commanders (here Duryodhana) incite armoured warriors to act—highlighting how intention and command can mobilize immense power, for good or ill, within the dharma-bound sphere of kṣatriya warfare.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that both sides have completed their battle-formations; the combined spectacle of armoured troops and banners looks like a boundless sea. In response to this sight, Duryodhana addresses his warriors and urges them to commence the fighting.