Shloka 47

भीष्मो5पि रथियनां श्रेष्ठ: प्रतिजग्राह तां चमूम्‌ । आपततन्ती महाराज वेलामिव महोदधि:,महाराज! रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ भीष्मने भी अपने ऊपर आती हुई उस विशाल सेनाको युद्धके लिये उसी प्रकार ग्रहण किया, जैसे तटभूमिको महासागर

sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmo 'pi rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pratijagrāha tāṃ camūm | āpatatantīṃ mahārāja velām iva mahodadhiḥ ||

Sanjaya said: Bhishma too, the foremost among chariot-warriors, received that great host as it surged toward him for battle—just as the mighty ocean meets the shoreline.

भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
रथियानाम्of chariot-warriors
रथियानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootरथि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
श्रेष्ठःbest, foremost
श्रेष्ठः:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रतिजग्राहaccepted/received; took on
प्रतिजग्राह:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
ताम्that (her/it)
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
चमूम्army, host
चमूम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचमू
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
आपततन्तीम्falling upon, rushing towards
आपततन्तीम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + पत्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular, Śatṛ (present active participle)
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
वेलाम्shore, coast, boundary
वेलाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवेला
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
महोदधिःthe great ocean
महोदधिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहोदधि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhishma
D
Dhritarashtra
C
camū (army/host)
M
mahodadhi (ocean)
V
velā (shoreline)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights steadfastness and disciplined acceptance of one’s duty: a leader should meet an oncoming crisis with composure and resolve, not panic—like the ocean’s vast steadiness at the shore.

Sanjaya describes Bhishma, the foremost chariot-warrior, facing and receiving the charging enemy host in battle, using the simile of the great ocean meeting the coastline.