Shloka 12
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ । निर्ययु: स्वान्यनीकानि शो भयन्तो रथोत्तमै:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! भीष्मके ऐसा कहनेपर वे सभी भूपाल श्रेष्ठ रथोंद्वारा अपनी सेनाओंकी शोभा बढ़ाते हुए युद्धके लिये प्रस्थित हुए
evam uktā mahīpālā bhīṣmeṇa bharatarṣabha | niryayuḥ svāny anīkāni śobhayanto rathottamaiḥ ||
桑阇耶说道：“婆罗多族之雄啊，诸王既受毗湿摩如此训示，便出师赴战。乘上最上等的战车，他们推进前行，使各自军阵光彩夺目——在统帅号令之下，同担职责，尽显武决之势。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethic of disciplined response to leadership in a time of crisis: once the commander (Bhīṣma) has spoken, the allied kings act in coordinated readiness. It frames war as an organized, duty-bound undertaking for rulers, emphasizing order, resolve, and collective alignment rather than individual impulse.
After Bhīṣma’s address, the assembled kings of the Kaurava side depart to take their positions for battle. They mount excellent chariots and move out with their respective divisions, making the army’s formations appear splendid as they prepare for the coming engagement.