Shloka 2
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
त॑ प्रत्यविध्यद् दशभिर्भीष्म: शान्तनव: शरै: | रुक्मपुड्खैर्महेष्वास: कृतहस्तो महाबल:,तब महाधनुर्धर महाबली तथा शीघ्रतापूर्वक हाथ चलानेवाले शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने सोनेके पंखवाले दस बाण मारकर विराटको भी घायल कर दिया
taṁ pratyavidhyad daśabhir bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ śaraiḥ | rukmapuḍkhair maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtahastaḥ mahābalaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian Bhishma, putera Śāntanu—gagah perkasa, pemanah agung, pantas dan tepat gerak tangannya—membalas dengan sepuluh anak panah yang dihiasi bulu keemasan, lalu mencederakannya. Dalam etika kewajipan ksatria (kṣātra-dharma), pertukaran serangan berterusan tanpa ragu: kekuatan dijawab dengan kekuatan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects kṣātra-dharma in its stark form: on the battlefield, a warrior responds decisively to an attack, demonstrating trained skill and steadfast resolve. It highlights disciplined competence (kṛtahasta) and the duty-bound continuity of combat rather than personal malice.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma, famed as a mighty archer and son of Śāntanu, counters an opponent by piercing him with ten golden-fletched arrows, continuing the exchange of missile warfare in the Kurukṣetra battle.