Shloka 9
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठ विशोक॑ चेदमब्रवीत् । तब महाबली महाबाहु भीमसेन अपने श्रेष्ठ रथपर आरूढ़ हो गये और सारथि विशोकसे इस प्रकार बोले-- ।। ८ ई ।। एते महारथा: शूरा धार्तराष्ट्राः: समागता:
āruroha rathaśreṣṭhaṃ viśokaś cedam abravīt | tataḥ mahābalī mahābāhuḥ bhīmasenaḥ svayaṃ śreṣṭhe rathopari ārūḍho ’bhavat, sārathiṃ viśokam iti hovāca | ete mahārathāḥ śūrā dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ samāgatāḥ ||
三阇耶说道：毗摩塞那这位臂力雄健、神力卓绝的英雄登上他那上乘战车，随即对御者毗首迦说道：“看哪，持国一方的勇猛大车战士都已在此集结。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights clear-eyed courage and preparedness in righteous conflict: a warrior acknowledges the strength and presence of opposing forces and steadies himself to act according to kṣatriya-dharma rather than impulsive emotion.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma mounts his chariot and speaks to his charioteer Viśoka, pointing out that the Kaurava-side great warriors have gathered—signaling the imminent clash and the mobilization of key fighters.