Shloka 19
छत्रोपानहदानफलप्रशंसा — Praise of the Merit of Donating Umbrella and Footwear
भीष्म उवाच स विस्फार्य धर्नुर्दिव्यं गृहीत्वा च शरान् बहून् । अतिष्ठत् सूर्यममभितो या तो याति ततो मुख:
bhīṣma uvāca sa visphārya dhanur divyaṃ gṛhītvā ca śarān bahūn | atiṣṭhat sūryam abhitō yāto yāti tato mukhaḥ ||
Bhishma sprach: Er spannte seinen himmlischen Bogen, ergriff viele Pfeile und stellte sich dann dem Sonnenlauf entgegen—sein Antlitz dorthin gewandt, wohin die Sonne zieht.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined readiness and resolute stance: the warrior prepares with divine weaponry and aligns himself with a cosmic reference (the Sun’s course), suggesting steadiness, clarity of direction, and purposeful action.
A figure (spoken of by Bhishma) draws a celestial bow, takes many arrows, and stands positioned facing the Sun, turning his face toward the direction of the Sun’s movement—signaling preparation for a decisive martial act.