Shloka 48
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
अर्जुन: पञ्चविंशत्या भीष्ममार्च्छच्छितै: शरै:
arjunaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā bhīṣmam ārcchacchitaiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya berkata: Arjuna, dengan dua puluh lima anak panah, menimpa Bhīṣma—menggerakkan pertempuran ke hadapan dengan kekuatan yang berdisiplin, menentang datuk agung yang menjadi tonggak utama pihak Kaurava. Saat itu menegaskan etika Kurukṣetra yang muram: bahkan yang paling dimuliakan pun mesti ditentang apabila mereka menegakkan pihak yang tidak benar.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the hard edge of dharma in war: personal reverence cannot override duty when an elder supports adharma. Arjuna’s measured, skillful assault symbolizes disciplined action performed for a larger moral obligation rather than personal hatred.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna shoots and hits Bhīṣma with twenty-five arrows during the Kurukṣetra battle, intensifying the combat against the Kauravas’ chief defender.