Shloka 7
भीष्म-द्रोणादिभिः पाण्डवसेनाक्षयकाल-निर्णयः | Time-estimates for the depletion of the Pāṇḍava forces
Bhīṣma–Droṇa council
गान्धारराज: शकुनि: प्राच्योदीच्याश्व सर्वश: । शका: किराता यवना: शिबयो5थ वसातय:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | gāndhārarājaḥ śakuniḥ prācyodīcyāś ca sarvaśaḥ | śakāḥ kirātā yavanāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ | aśvatthāmā bhīṣmaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ dākṣiṇātya-nareśāḥ pāścātyā bhūpālāḥ parvatīyāś ca bhūpālāḥ—ete sarve mahārathāḥ sva-sva-senābhiḥ sametāḥ mahārathiṃ (bhīṣmam) sarvataḥ parivārya dvitīya-sainyadala-rūpeṇa susajjitāḥ nirjagmuḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Si Śakuni, hari ng Gandhāra, kasama ang mga pinuno mula sa silangan at hilaga; at ang mga Śaka, Kirāta, Yavana, Śibi, at Vasāti—kasama nina Aśvatthāmā, Bhīṣma, at ang haring Sindhu na si Jayadratha, gayundin ang mga hari ng timog, kanluran, at kabundukan—ang mga dakilang mandirigmang karwahe na ito, bawat isa’y may sariling hukbo, ay nagtipon bilang ikalawang pangkat. Pinalibutan nila si Bhīṣma sa lahat ng panig at lumabas na ganap ang ayos ng digmaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how large-scale conflict is enabled by deliberate coalition-building and disciplined military organization. Ethically, it underscores that war is not a sudden accident but a planned mobilization of many polities—implying collective responsibility for the escalation toward adharma-driven destruction.
A wide array of kings and warrior-groups—named and regionally classified—assemble with their troops. They form a second battle-division and march out, encircling Bhīṣma as the central great warrior/commander figure, indicating a formal deployment of forces.