Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अथ ते तमसा ग्रस्ता निहन्यन्ते सम दानवै: । देवा नृपतिशार्दूल सहैव बलिभिस्तदा,नृपश्रेष्ठ॒ फिर तो अन्धकारमें फँसे हुए देवतालोग कुछ सूझ न पड़नेके कारण एक साथ ही बलवान दानवोंके हाथसे मारे जाने लगे

Transliteration

atha te tamasā grastā nihanyante sama-dānavaiḥ | devā nṛpatiśārdūla sahaiva balibhis tadā ||

Translation

ثم إنّ الآلهة، وقد غمرتهم الظلمة فلم يعودوا يُبصرون على وجهٍ بيّن—يا نمرَ الملوك—قُتلوا آنذاك مجتمعين على أيدي الدانافا الأقوياء.

Word by Word

अथthen

तेthey (those)

तमसाby darkness

ग्रस्ताःseized/overcome

निहन्यन्तेare slain/are being killed

समम्together, at once

दानवैःby the Danavas (demons)

देवाःthe gods

नृपति-शार्दूलO tiger among kings

सहtogether with

एवindeed, just

बलिभिःby the strong ones

तदाat that time

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Devas

Dānavas

nṛpatiśārdūla (the addressed king, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that when beings are overcome by tamas—darkness, confusion, or ignorance—they lose discernment and become vulnerable; power and status do not protect one who cannot see rightly. Ethically, it implies the necessity of clarity, vigilance, and right understanding in the exercise of strength and in confronting adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a moment when the gods are engulfed in darkness and, unable to perceive properly, are collectively struck down by powerful Dānavas. He addresses the listener as 'tiger among kings,' framing the episode as an instructive example for royal conduct and moral reflection.