Shloka 72
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
तान्यनीकान्यथालोक्य राक्षसेन्द्र: प्रतापवान्
tāny anīkāny athālokya rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
Sañjaya nói: Thấy những trận thế ấy, vị chúa tể Rākṣasa hùng mạnh, lừng danh về uy dũng, quan sát đội hình đối phương, sẵn sàng cho những bổn phận dữ dội của chiến tranh.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of warfare: a leader must first clearly perceive the situation—enemy formations and readiness—before acting. It underscores responsibility and strategic awareness as part of martial duty, rather than impulsive violence.
Sañjaya narrates that a powerful Rākṣasa leader, upon seeing the assembled battle-formations, surveys them—marking a moment of appraisal and preparation just before ensuing action in the war setting.