Shloka 15

Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171

Devanagari script

अर्जुन वासुदेवं च ये चान्ये तत्र पार्थिवा: । सर्वास्तान्‌ वारयिष्यामि यावद्‌ द्रक्ष्यामि भारत

Transliteration

arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca ye cānye tatra pārthivāḥ | sarvāṃs tān vārayiṣyāmi yāvad drakṣyāmi bhārata ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Arjuna und Vāsudeva und welche anderen Könige dort auch sein mögen — solange ich sie noch sehen kann, o Bhārata, werde ich sie alle aufhalten und ihr Vorrücken verhindern.“

Word by Word

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna (as object)
• अर्जुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva/Kṛṣṇa (as object)
• वासुदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• पार्थिवाः: kings
• पार्थिवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वारयिष्यामि: I will restrain/stop
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यावत्: until/as long as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• द्रक्ष्यामि: I will see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bhārata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भारत: O Bhārata (repeated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna
• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• pārthivāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve and the ethic of steadfastness: Bhīṣma commits to restraining even the foremost warriors as long as he remains capable, showing unwavering adherence to his chosen side and duty, regardless of personal regard for opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, speaking in the Udyoga Parva context of impending conflict, declares that he will block the advance of Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, and the other kings present—asserting his readiness to act as a bulwark against them for as long as he can still face them.