Shloka 3

Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance

Devanagari script

ध्मायत्सु दधिवर्णेषु जलजेषु समन्तत: । शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य निर्याता: पाण्डवा युधि,संजयने कहा--राजन्‌! तदनन्तर सूर्योदय होनेपर रणभेरियाँ बज उठीं, मृदंग और ढोल पीटे जाने लगे, दहीके समान श्वेतवर्णवाले शंख सब ओर बजाये जाने लगे। उस समय समस्त पाण्डव शिखण्डीको आगे करके युद्धके लिये शिविरसे बाहर निकले

Transliteration

dhmāyatsu dadhivarṇeṣu jalajeṣu samantataḥ | śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya niryātāḥ pāṇḍavā yudhi ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, then at sunrise the battle-instruments resounded. Conch-shells, white as curd, were blown on every side. With Śikhaṇḍin placed in the forefront, the Pāṇḍavas marched out from their camp to engage in war.”

Word by Word

ध्मायत्सुwhile being blown / when sounding

दधिवर्णेषुin/among those of curd-like color (white)

जलजेषुin the water-born ones (conch-shells)

समन्ततःon all sides

शिखण्डिनम्Shikhandin

पुरस्कृत्यhaving placed in front / making (him) the leader

निर्याता:went out / marched forth

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

युधिin battle

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

King Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Śikhaṇḍin

Pāṇḍavas

conch-shells (śaṅkha/jalaja)

battle instruments (drums/war-bands implied)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how dharma and strategy intertwine in war: the Pāṇḍavas deliberately place Śikhaṇḍin at the front, signaling a tactical and ethical turning point in the Bhīṣma episode, while the ritualized sounds of conches and drums frame the battle as a solemn, duty-bound undertaking rather than mere violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

At sunrise the battlefield comes alive with the blowing of white conch-shells and other war sounds. The Pāṇḍavas then leave their camp to fight, positioning Śikhaṇḍin as their vanguard.