Shloka 8
कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies
पितामहेन वो युद्ध पूर्वमेव भविष्यति । तस्मात् सप्तसु सेनासु प्रणेतृन् मम पश्यत
pitāmahena vo yuddha pūrvam eva bhaviṣyati | tasmāt saptasu senāsu praṇetṝn mama paśyata |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Peperangan kamu akan bermula terlebih dahulu dengan Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma). Maka, perhatikanlah para pemimpin dalam tujuh pasukan kamu—periksalah kekuatan di segenap penjuru dan berdirilah siap, lengkap dengan zirah dan kelengkapan lainnya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses disciplined readiness and responsible command: before entering a righteous but tragic war, leaders must inspect their forces, ensure proper equipment, and attend to competent commanders—because the first engagement will be against the formidable Bhīṣma.
Vaiśampāyana narrates instructions given to warriors to move about and review their troops, stand armed and armored, and especially to secure the leadership of their seven divisions, since the opening clash is expected to be with the grandsire Bhīṣma.