Shloka 28

Devanagari script

हेमतालेन महता भीष्मस्तिष्ठति पालयन्‌ | सर्वेषां धार्तराष्ट्राणां समरे शर्म वर्म च,'सुवर्णमय तालचिह्नसे युक्त विशाल ध्वजसे सुशोभित होनेवाले भीष्मजी हम सबकी रक्षा करते हुए युद्धके मैदानमें खड़े हैं। हम सभी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंके लिये ये ही कल्याणकारी आश्रय और कवच हैं

Transliteration

hemataalena mahatā bhīṣmas tiṣṭhati pālayan | sarveṣāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ samare śarma varma ca ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Bhīṣma stands on the battlefield, protecting us beneath a great golden palmyra-banner. For all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in this war, he is both a refuge that brings safety and a coat of armor.”

Word by Word

हेमतालेनwith/by a golden palm-tree emblem (standard)

महताgreat, large

भीष्मःBhishma

तिष्ठतिstands

पालयन्protecting, guarding

सर्वेषाम्of all

धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्of the sons of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas)

समरेin battle

शर्मshelter, protection, comfort

वर्मarmor, protective covering

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied via dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ)

Dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra / Kauravas)

golden palmyra-banner (hema-tāla-dhvaja / tāla-cihna)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of protective leadership in war: a commander’s presence and steadfastness become ‘śarma’ (refuge) and ‘varma’ (armor) for those who depend on him, emphasizing responsibility and guardianship amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how Bhīṣma stands prominently on the battlefield under a great golden emblem-banner, guarding the Kaurava forces; his stature is portrayed as the Kauravas’ chief protection and reassurance in the coming fight.