Shloka 8
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
ततः प्रयात: सहसा भीष्म: शान्तनवोडर्जुनम् | रणे भारतमायान्तमाससाद महाबल:,तदनन्तर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म युद्धभूमिमें सहसा अर्जुनके सामने गये। भरतवंशी भीष्मको आते देख महाबली अर्जुन उनके पास जा पहुँचे
tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo 'rjunam | raṇe bhāratam āyāntam āsasāda mahābalaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Kemudian Bhishma, putera Śāntanu, mara dengan tiba-tiba lalu berhadapan dengan Arjuna di medan perang. Melihat Bhishma datang dalam hiruk-pikuk pertempuran, Arjuna yang perkasa pun bergerak untuk menemuinya. Adegan ini menyingkap ketegangan etika yang berat: para tua yang dimuliakan dan kaum kerabat yang dikasihi berdiri bertentangan, namun masing-masing tetap melangkah menurut sumpah dan dharma yang diikrarkan dalam tata perang yang keras.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness in duty: even when the opponent is a revered elder or beloved relative, warriors bound by vows and allegiance proceed without hesitation. It underscores the tragic moral complexity of dharma in war—right action is pursued within a framework that still entails sorrowful conflict.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma suddenly advances on the battlefield and comes face-to-face with Arjuna. Arjuna, seeing Bhīṣma approach, moves to meet him, setting the stage for a direct engagement between the grandsire and the foremost Pāṇḍava archer.