Shloka 45

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियाणां ततो वाच: ध्रुत्वा परपुरंजय: । क्रुद्ध: शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तिष्ठ तिछेत्यभाषत,शत्रुओंकी राजधानीको जीतनेवाले शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने क्षत्रियोंकी वे बातें सुनकर कुपित हो शाल्वसे कहा--'खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह”

Transliteration

kṣatriyāṇāṃ tato vācaḥ śrutvā parapuraṃjayaḥ | kruddhaḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmas tiṣṭha tiṣṭhety abhāṣata ||

Translation

Da wurde Bhīṣma, der Sohn Śantanus—berühmt als Bezwinger feindlicher Festungen—zornig, als er die Worte der Kṣatriyas hörte, und rief Śālva zu: „Steh! Steh und halte stand!“

Word by Word

क्षत्रियाणाम्of the Kshatriyas

ततःthen; thereupon

वाचःwords; speech

धृत्वाhaving held/borne (i.e., having heard/considered)

परपुरंजयःconqueror of enemy-cities

क्रुद्धःangry

शान्तनवःson/descendant of Śantanu

भीष्मःBhīṣma

तिष्ठstand! stay!

तिष्ठstand! stay! (repeated for emphasis)

इतिthus (quotative)

अभाषतsaid; spoke

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Śantanu

Śālva

kṣatriyas

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 kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior must meet confrontation directly, uphold courage and accountability, and not evade a rightful challenge. Bhīṣma’s command functions as a moral demand for steadfastness in the face of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the kṣatriyas’ remarks, Bhīṣma becomes angry and calls out to Śālva, ordering him to stop and face him—an immediate battlefield challenge framed in the language of honor and resolve.