Shloka 7
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
तथा प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे धनुरुद्यम्य दंशित: । अभिपत्य महाबाहुर्भीष्मो भीमपराक्रम:
tathā pravṛtte saṅgrāme dhanur udyamya daṃśitaḥ | abhipatya mahābāhur bhīṣmo bhīmaparākramaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Tatkala pertempuran benar-benar bermula demikian, Bhishma—bertangan perkasa dan berani menggerunkan—mengangkat busurnya, menyarung zirah, lalu menerpa ke hadapan, menurunkan hujan anak panah ke atas para wira terdepan pihak lawan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of duty and allegiance in wartime: once conflict begins, even revered elders like Bhishma act decisively as warriors, illustrating the stern demands of kshatriya-dharma and the moral weight of choices that set war in motion.
Sanjaya describes the opening surge of battle: Bhishma arms himself—raising his bow and wearing armor—and charges forward to attack the opposing side with a fierce volley of arrows.