Shloka 57
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
हैमं चन्द्रार्कसंकाशं कवचं यस्य दृश्यते । जातरूपशिरस्त्राणं मनस्तापयतीव मे
arjuna uvāca |
haimaṁ candrārkasaṅkāśaṁ kavacaṁ yasya dṛśyate |
jātarūpaśirastrāṇaṁ manastāpayatīva me ||
Arjuna sprach: „Der, an dem man einen goldenen Panzer sieht, der wie Mond und Sonne leuchtet, und einen Helm aus reinem Gold—ihn zu erblicken scheint meinen Geist vor Gram zu versengen. Denn jener mächtige Held ist unser Großvater Bhīṣma, der Sohn Śāntanus: obgleich mit königlichem Glanz und Würdigkeit begabt, hat er sich Duryodhanas Befehl unterstellt. Der Anblick solcher Größe, an eine ungerechte Sache gekettet, quält mein Herz.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a central Mahābhārata ethic: greatness and virtue can be morally compromised when bound by misplaced loyalty. Arjuna’s anguish arises from seeing a revered elder, radiant and worthy, nevertheless serving an unrighteous leadership—showing the tension between personal vows/obedience and the higher demands of dharma.
Arjuna identifies a brilliantly armoured warrior and reacts with inner pain. He recognizes him as Bhīṣma, the Kuru grandsire (son of Śāntanu), and laments that despite Bhīṣma’s eminence he is acting under Duryodhana’s authority, which Arjuna views as ethically troubling.