Shloka 5

जनकस्य युद्धोपदेशः — Janaka’s Instruction on Steadfast Battle-Conduct

Devanagari script

इमे पलायमानानां नरकाः: प्रत्युपस्थिता: । अकीर्ति: शाश्व॒ती चैव यतितव्यमनन्तरम्‌,“और देखो, ये जो तुम्हारे सामने नरक उपस्थित हुए हैं, युद्धमें पीठ दिखाकर भागनेवालोंको मिलते हैं। साथ ही इस जगतमें उनकी सदा रहनेवाली अपकीर्ति फैल जाती है; अत: अब तुम लोगोंको विजयके लिये प्रयत्न करना चाहिये

Transliteration

ime palāyamānānāṁ narakāḥ pratyupasthitāḥ | akīrtiḥ śāśvatī caiva yatitavyam anantaram ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Und seht — die Höllen stehen bereit für jene, die aus der Schlacht fliehen und den Rücken kehren. Zugleich breitet sich in dieser Welt ein dauernder Makel der Schande aus. Darum müsst ihr unverzüglich, mit festem Entschluss, nach dem Sieg streben.“

Word by Word

इमेthese

पलायमानानाम्of those who are fleeing

नरकाःhells

प्रत्युपस्थिताःhave appeared before (are present)

अकीर्तिःill-fame, disgrace

शाश्वतीeternal, lasting

चand

एवindeed, just

यतितव्यम्must be striven for / one should strive

अनन्तरम्immediately, without delay

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma frames desertion as a serious breach of kshatriya-duty: fleeing invites both otherworldly suffering (naraka) and lasting worldly dishonor (akīrti). The ethical thrust is that one should meet one’s rightful obligation with courage and immediate effort rather than escape out of fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses warriors in a counsel-like tone, warning them that turning their backs in battle leads to dire consequences. He urges prompt exertion—‘without delay’—to stand firm and strive for victory, emphasizing the social and moral weight of reputation and duty.