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Shloka 5

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

ततो युद्ध समभवत्‌ तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्‌ । तावकानां परेषां च व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्‌,फिर तो आपके और पाण्डवोंके सैनिकोंमें रोमांचकारी घमासान युद्ध होने लगा। उसमें उभय पक्षके रथ और हाथी एक-दूसरेसे गुँथ गये थे

tato yuddham abhavat tumulaṁ lomaharṣaṇam | tāvakānāṁ pareṣāṁ ca vyatiṣakta-ratha-dvipam ||

แล้วศึกอันอึกทึกน่าสะพรึงจนขนลุกก็อุบัติขึ้น ระหว่างกองทัพของพระองค์กับกองทัพฝ่ายตรงข้าม ในการปะทะนั้น รถศึกและช้างของทั้งสองฝ่ายพันเกี่ยวกันแน่น เมื่อกองทัพทั้งสองเบียดเข้าหากันอย่างโกลาหล

ततःthen, thereupon
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')
युद्धम्battle, fight
युद्धम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, nominative singular
समभवत्arose, happened, came to be
समभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + भू
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada
तुमुलम्tumultuous, fierce
तुमुलम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतुमुल
FormNeuter, nominative singular (agreeing with युद्धम्)
लोमहर्षणम्hair-raising, thrilling
लोमहर्षणम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलोमहर्षण
FormNeuter, nominative singular (agreeing with युद्धम्)
तावकानाम्of your (people/side)
तावकानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootतावक
FormMasculine, genitive plural
परेषाम्of the others (the enemy side)
परेषाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपर
FormMasculine, genitive plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
FormAvyaya (conjunction)
व्यतिषक्तintertwined, entangled
व्यतिषक्त:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + अति + शक्
FormPast passive participle (क्त), neuter nominative singular (qualifying रथद्विपम्)
रथद्विपम्chariots and elephants (intermingled mass)
रथद्विपम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ + द्विप
FormNeuter, nominative singular (collective dvandva: 'chariots-and-elephants')

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address 'tāvakānām')
K
Kaurava army (tāvakāḥ)
P
Pāṇḍava army (pare)
C
chariots (ratha)
E
elephants (dvipa)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the moral gravity and uncontrollable momentum of war: once hostilities begin, order collapses into entanglement and terror. It implicitly frames the battlefield as a testing ground for dharma, where choices made earlier now manifest as unavoidable consequences.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a fierce, overwhelming battle has begun between the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas. The fighting has closed to such proximity that chariots and elephants from both sides are locked together in a chaotic melee.