Shloka 76

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)

Devanagari script

प्रादेशेनाधिका: पुम्भिरन्यैस्ते च प्रमाणत: । ये सभी महामना पाण्डव शालवृक्षके स्तम्भोंके समान ऊँचे हैं। उनकी ऊँचाईका मान अन्य पुरुषोंसे एक बित्ता अधिक है

Transliteration

prādeśenādhikāḥ pumbhir anyais te ca pramāṇataḥ |

Translation

Bhīṣma sagte: „Nach gemessener Körpergröße sind jene Männer um ein prādeśa (eine Handspanne) größer als andere.“ Im Zusammenhang schildert Bhīṣma die außergewöhnliche körperliche Erscheinung der Pāṇḍavas — ein äußeres Zeichen ihrer Heldenkraft und der gewaltigen Herausforderung, die sie im kommenden Krieg darstellen.

Word by Word

• प्रादेशेन: by a span (pradeśa)
• प्रादेशेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादेश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अधिकाः: greater, exceeding
• अधिकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पुम्भिः: than (other) men
• पुम्भिः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अन्यैः: other
• अन्यैः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रमाणतः: in measure; as to measurement
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाणतस्

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that true power in the epic is not merely claimed but can be recognized through clear signs—here, extraordinary stature—supporting prudent judgment about allies and adversaries before war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is giving a descriptive appraisal of the Pāṇḍavas, emphasizing their exceptional build and presence as part of evaluating their strength and the seriousness of confronting them.