Chapter I · Śloka 17
Sañjaya uvāca
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः |
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||
kāśyaś ca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ ||
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ ||
The King of Kashi, an excellent archer; Shikhandi, the great charioteer; Dhrishtadyumna; Virata; and the unconquered Satyaki —
Shikhandi's presence is charged with meaning: he was born specifically to be the instrument of Bhishma's death, a fate Bhishma himself knows and accepts. The battle array is filled with destinies that have been set in motion long before this morning.