Shloka 53
तमेक॑ छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् । भीष्म भागीरथीपुत्र प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून्
tam ekaṁ chādayāmāsur meghā iva divākaram | bhīṣma bhāgīrathīputra pratapantaṁ raṇe ripūn, paraṁtapa ||
Sañjaya sprach: Wie Wolken die Sonne verhüllen, so bedeckten jene Helden Bhīṣma—sie umringten ihn mit Massen von Fußvolk, Reitern und Wagenkämpfern und mit unzähligen Pfeilen. Doch zu jener Zeit stand Bhīṣma, der Sohn der Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), allein auf dem Schlachtfeld und sengte die feindlichen Reihen mit grimmiger Kraft—o Bezwinger der Feinde.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and warrior-duty under overwhelming pressure: even when surrounded and ‘covered’ by enemy forces, Bhīṣma continues to act with unwavering resolve, embodying kṣatriya valor and endurance.
Sañjaya describes how many warriors converge on Bhīṣma, showering him with innumerable arrows and surrounding him with mixed troops, like clouds obscuring the sun; nevertheless, Bhīṣma stands alone and powerfully harasses the enemy in the thick of battle.