Shloka 72
भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्
Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash
उभयो: सेनयो: शूरा न्यकृन्तन्त परस्परम् | तीखी धारवाले खड़्गों, चमचमाते हुए फरसों, अन्य अनेक प्रकारके बाणों तथा भाँति- भाँतिके शस्त्रोंसे दोनों सेनाओंके शूरवीर एक-दूसरेको मारते थे || ७१ ह ।। वर्तमाने तथा घोरे तस्मिन् युद्धे सुदारुणे । द्रोणगपाउचाल्ययो राजन् महानासीत् समागम:,राजन्! जहाँ एक ओर इस प्रकार भयानक तथा अत्यन्त दारुण युद्ध चल रहा था, वहीं दूसरी ओर द्रोणाचार्य और धृष्टद्युम्ममें भयंकर मुठभेड़ हो रही थी
sañjaya uvāca | ubhayoḥ senayoḥ śūrā nyakṛntanta parasparam | vartamāne tathā ghore tasmin yuddhe sudāruṇe | droṇagapāñcālyayo rājan mahān āsīt samāgamaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Os heróis de ambos os exércitos golpeavam-se e abatiam-se mutuamente em combate. Enquanto aquela guerra terrível e extremamente cruel prosseguia, ó Rei, deu-se um grande e feroz encontro entre Droṇa e o campeão dos Pāñcālas (Dhṛṣṭadyumna).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of war: mutual destruction among warriors and the escalation into decisive duels. Ethically, it highlights how kṣatriya conflict, even when framed as duty, unfolds as severe suffering and irreversible consequence.
Sañjaya reports that fighters on both sides are cutting each other down across the battlefield, and within that wider carnage a major clash begins—Droṇa engages the Pāñcāla champion Dhṛṣṭadyumna in a formidable encounter.