Shloka 296

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्ते दारुणे युद्धे शाल्वार्थ नापतं पुरा । “अथवा अपने मूढ़ पिताको दोष दूँ, जिन्होंने मेरा स्वयंवर किया। मेरे द्वारा सबसे बड़ा दोष यह हुआ है कि पूर्वकालमें जिस समय वह भयंकर युद्ध चल रहा था, उसी समय मैं शाल्वके लिये भीष्मके रथसे कूद नहीं पड़ी

Transliteration

pravṛtte dāruṇe yuddhe śālvārtha nāpataṃ purā |

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Einst, als jener schreckliche Krieg bereits begonnen hatte, sprang ich nicht um Śālvas willen von Bhīṣmas Wagen.“ Die Zeile ist eine rückblickende moralische Selbstanklage: Die Sprecherin deutet das Zögern im entscheidenden Augenblick als eigene Schuld und lässt erkennen, dass Pflicht in der Krise sofortige, auch riskante Entschlossenheit verlangen kann.

Word by Word

प्रवृत्तेwhen (it was) begun/ongoing

दारुणेterrible, dreadful

युद्धेin the battle

शाल्वार्थम्for Śālva's sake

नnot

अपतत्fell/jumped down

पुराformerly, earlier

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Śālva

Bhīṣma’s chariot

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?

The verse highlights ethical accountability for one’s choices during moments of danger: failing to act when duty calls can become a lasting moral burden, especially when the stakes involve protection, loyalty, or rightful obligation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recalls an earlier episode in which a fierce battle was underway, and he admits that he did not jump down from his chariot for Śālva’s sake—presenting this as a significant lapse or missed decisive action.