Shloka 7
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
तत्राद्भुतं महच्चक्रे शरैरार्च्छद् रथोत्तमान् । समावृणोच्छरैरर्कमर्कतुल्यप्रतापवान्
tatrādbhutaṁ mahācakre śarair ārcchad rathottamān | samāvṛṇoc charair arkam arkatulya-pratāpavān, jighāṁsantaṁ yudhāṁ śreṣṭha tadā ’sīt tumulaṁ mahat ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Doon ay gumawa si Bhīṣma ng isang dakilang kababalaghan. Sa kanyang mga palaso, binuhusan at nilamon niya ang pinakamahuhusay na karwahe; at sa ningning na tulad ng araw, natakpan pa niya ang araw mismo ng kanyang mga palaso. Nang sumulong siya na may hangaring pumatay sa mga pangunahing mandirigma, ang sagupaan noon ay lumaki sa isang napakalawak at magulong labanan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked martial power can rapidly intensify conflict: extraordinary prowess (here, Bhīṣma’s) becomes a force that overwhelms many at once, turning battle into a “tumult.” Ethically, it underscores the epic’s recurring tension between kṣatriya excellence and the destructive escalation it can unleash.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, shining with sun-like energy, showers arrows so densely that he seems to obscure even the sun, overwhelming the best chariots and driving the fight into a massive, chaotic engagement as he advances with lethal intent against foremost warriors.