Shloka 5
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
संजय उवाच हन्त ते*हं प्रवक्ष्यामि संग्रामं लोमहर्षणम् । यथाभूदू् राक्षसेन्द्रस्य सौभद्रस्य च मारिष
sañjaya uvāca | hanta te 'haṁ pravakṣyāmi saṅgrāmaṁ lomaharṣaṇam | yathābhūd rākṣasendrasya saubhadrasya ca māriṣa ||
Sanjaya disse: Agora, narrarei a ti aquela batalha que faz os cabelos se eriçarem—como de fato se desenrolou entre o senhor dos Rākṣasas e o filho de Subhadrā, ó venerável. Ouve enquanto descrevo o terrível choque em que o jovem guerreiro Abhimanyu enfrentou o rei-demônio Alambuṣa, cena que revela tanto o custo atroz da guerra quanto a firme resolução daqueles que lutam conforme o dharma que escolheram.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames war as a grave, awe-inspiring reality and emphasizes truthful reporting (yathābhūt—“as it actually happened”). Ethically, it points to the seriousness of kṣatriya conflict: courage and duty are displayed, yet the narration itself acknowledges the terror and cost inherent in battle.
Sanjaya begins a new episode in his report to the king, announcing that he will describe a terrifying combat—specifically, how the fight occurred between the Rākṣasa leader Alambuṣa and Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā.