Shloka 9
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
एतेषु नरवीरेषु चेदिमत्स्येषु चाभिभू: । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वृद्ध: कुरुपितामह:
eteṣu naravīreṣu cedimatsyeṣu cābhibhūḥ | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu, ke atas para wira itu—dan juga ke atas orang Chedi serta Matsya—Bhishma, pitamaha tua kaum Kuru, mencurahkan hujan anak panah. Setelah perang bermula, beliau mara dengan tekad yang mendadak, memperlihatkan kerasnya dharma seorang kṣatriya: apabila sudah melangkah ke medan, bertempurlah tanpa ragu, walau berhadapan lawan yang perkasa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising nature of kṣatriya-dharma once war has commenced: a commander must act decisively and bear the moral weight of battle without wavering, even in old age, when duty and allegiance demand steadfast action.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma, the aged Kuru grandsire, advances in the now-begun battle and unleashes intense volleys of arrows against prominent opposing warriors and against the contingents of Cedi and Matsya.