Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि ते<न्योन्यस्य विशाम्पते । युयुधु: पाण्डवाश्वैव कौरवाश्व॒ महाबला:
pratisaṃvārya cāstrāṇi te 'nyonyasya viśāmpate | yuyudhuḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kauravāś ca mahābalāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai tuan manusia! Setelah saling menahan dan menangkis senjata peluru masing-masing, para Pāṇḍava yang perkasa dan para Kaurava yang perkasa terus bertempur—setiap serangan disambut dengan langkah balas dan penangkisan, tatkala pertempuran mara dalam timbal-balik yang tidak mengenal henti.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined martial conduct: even amid violence, combat is portrayed as governed by skill, restraint, and response—each side meeting weapons with countermeasures rather than uncontrolled rage, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of regulated warfare.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍava and Kaurava warriors, all very strong, are actively engaged in battle, mutually parrying and neutralizing each other’s missiles as the fight continues.