Shloka 55
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
अदर्शयेतां बहुधा सूतसामर्थ्यलाघवातू | वे दोनों अपने सारथिकी शक्ति तथा शीघ्रकारिताके कारण नाना प्रकारके विचित्र मण्डल, आगे बढ़ने और पीछे हटने आदिके पैंतरे दिखाने लगे || ५४ ह ।।
sañjaya uvāca | adarśayetāṃ bahudhā sūtasāmarthya-lāghavāt | antaraṃ ca prahāreṣu tarkayantī parasparam |
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan kemahiran sais kereta dan gerak yang pantas, kedua-duanya memperlihatkan pelbagai helah taktik—pusingan melingkar, mara ke hadapan, dan berundur—masing-masing mengintai ruang kosong dalam serangan dan balasan lawan. Adegan ini menegaskan bahawa dalam perang, penguasaan teknik dan pertimbangan yang waspada boleh menentukan hidup dan mati, bahkan sebelum kekuatan semata-mata diuji.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory in righteous combat is not only about force but also about disciplined skill, agility, and discerning the right moment—seeking the opponent’s ‘antara’ (opening) without reckless aggression.
Sañjaya describes two combatants (with their charioteers) executing varied chariot maneuvers—circling, advancing, retreating—while mutually assessing openings amid exchanges of blows.