Shloka 8
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
विनिर्ययौ केतुमता रथेन नरर्षभ: श्वेतहयेन वीर: । वरूथिना सैन्यमुखे महात्मा वधे धृत: सर्वसपत्नयूनाम्
sañjaya uvāca |
viniryayau ketumatā rathena nararṣabhaḥ śvetahayena vīraḥ |
varūthinā sainyamukhe mahātmā vadhe dhṛtaḥ sarvasapatnayūnām ||
tad-anantaraṃ narśreṣṭhaḥ mahāmanā vīra arjunaḥ samasta-śatru-pakṣīya-yuvakānāṃ vadha-saṅkalpaṃ kṛtvā śata-ghoḍaiḥ yuktam dhvaja-āvaraṇa-yuktaṃ rathaṃ samāruhya śatru-senāyāḥ sammukhaṃ yayau |
sa drauṇim iṣuṇā ekena viddhvā śalyaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ |
dhvajaṃ sāyamaneshu eva ṣoḍaśābhiḥ ciccheda tataḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Then that heroic bull among men set out in his bannered chariot, drawn by white horses. Armoured and great-souled, he advanced to the very front of the army, resolved upon the destruction of all rival warriors. After that, the noble-minded hero Arjuna—having formed the grim resolve to slay the young champions of the enemy host—mounted his chariot, yoked with a hundred horses and furnished with banner and protective coverings, and moved straight toward the opposing army. He pierced Drona’s son (Aśvatthāman) with a single arrow, struck Śalya with five, and then cut down Śalya’s banner with sixteen shafts.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of steadfast resolve and disciplined action in battle: a warrior advances to the front, targets key opponents, and disables symbols of command (like a banner) to weaken enemy morale—while the narrator frames this as purposeful, duty-driven conduct within the war’s ethical code.
Sanjaya reports that Arjuna rides forward in a bannered, well-protected chariot drawn by white horses, intent on slaying enemy champions. He wounds Aśvatthāman with one arrow, strikes Śalya with five arrows, and then cuts down Śalya’s banner with sixteen arrows.