Shloka 2
भीष्मस्य सेनापत्यप्रतिज्ञा तथा रथसंख्यावर्णनम् | Bhishma Accepts Command and Enumerates Kaurava Strength
स केशवमभिप्रेक्ष्य गुडाकेशो महायशा: । अभ्यभाषत कैततव्यं प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम्
sa keśavam abhiprekṣya guḍākeśo mahāyaśāḥ | abhyabhāṣata kaitavyaṁ pragṛhya vipulaṁ bhujam ||
Disse Sañjaya: Ó melhor dos Bhāratas! Depois de ouvir as palavras anteriores de Duryodhana, o ilustre Arjuna—com os olhos avermelhados de ira—olhou para Ulūka, filho de Śakuni. Então, erguendo o seu braço amplo e poderoso e fixando o olhar em Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), proferiu palavras adequadas ao momento—assinalando a sua determinação de responder ao engano com firmeza justa, enquanto a crise se encaminhava para a guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral pivot: when provoked by arrogant or deceitful speech, a righteous warrior should respond with measured, appropriate resolve—seeking guidance from a trusted, dharmic counselor (Kṛṣṇa) rather than acting blindly from anger.
After hearing Duryodhana’s words (conveyed in context by Ulūka), Arjuna becomes visibly angry, looks toward the messenger, then turns to Kṛṣṇa, raises his arm in emphasis, and begins to speak—indicating an imminent, decisive reply as negotiations collapse toward war.