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 ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—ஆரியரே! இப்போது நான் உமக்கு அந்த மெய்சிலிர்க்கச் செய்யும் போரைக் கூறுவேன்; ராட்சசேந்திரனுக்கும் சுபத்ரையின் புதல்வனுக்கும் இடையில் அது எவ்வாறு நிகழ்ந்ததோ, ஓ மாரிஷா!
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.