Shloka 24

Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तेषां महास्त्राणि महारथाना- मसहाकर्मा विनिहत्य कार्ष्णि: | बभौ महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली सदोगत: सन्‌ भगवानिवाग्नि:

Transliteration

teṣāṁ mahāstrāṇi mahārathānām asahakarmā vinihatya kārṣṇiḥ | babhau mahāmantrahutārcimālī sadogataḥ san bhagavān ivāgniḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Kārṣṇi—dessen Kraft für andere unerträglich war—zerschmetterte die mächtigen himmlischen Waffen jener großen Wagenkämpfer. Danach erstrahlte er wie der gesegnete Feuergott, von Flammenkränzen umwunden, die durch Opfergaben entzündet wurden, welche mit großen Mantras im Opferritus dargebracht waren.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• महास्त्राणि: great weapons/missiles
• महास्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महास्त्र (महत् + अस्त्र)
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• महारथानाम्: of the great chariot-warriors
• महारथानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• असह: unbearable
• असह: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कर्मा: in deeds; doer (one whose actions are ...)
• कर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विनिहत्य: having destroyed/slain
• विनिहत्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-हन्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage), non-finite

• कार्ष्णिः: Kārṣṇi (a Vrishni hero; here the subject)
• कार्ष्णिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्ष्णि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• बभौ: shone; appeared splendid
• बभौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• महामन्त्र: with great mantras
• महामन्त्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (महत् + मन्त्र)
• Form: masculine, instrumental (as first member in compound), plural (sense)

• हुत: offered (as oblation)
• हुत: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, nominative, singular

• अर्चि: flame; radiance
• अर्चि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस्
• Form: neuter, nominative (as first member in compound), singular

• माली: garlanded; having a garland (of flames)
• माली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली: one whose flame-garland is fed by oblations with great mantras
• महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामन्त्र-हुत-अर्चि-मालिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सदोगतः: having gone to the sacrificial hall
• सदोगतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदस् + गत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• भगवान्: the blessed lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• इव: like; as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अग्निः: Agni; fire
• अग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kārṣṇi (Sātyaki)
• mahārathas (Kaurava great chariot-warriors)
• mahāstras (celestial weapons)
• Agni (Fire-god)
• yajña (sacrificial rite implied by mantra and oblation imagery)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames martial power within a moral-ritual metaphor: when force is disciplined and directed toward a righteous end, it is likened to sacrificial fire—bright, controlled, and purpose-driven—rather than chaotic destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kārṣṇi (Sātyaki) overpowering Kaurava elite warriors by neutralizing their formidable astras; his brilliance and momentum on the battlefield are compared to Agni blazing after receiving oblations with great mantras.