Shloka 8

Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies

Devanagari script

रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिश: । अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत्‌,बहुसंख्यक रथोंकी सेनाएँ नगरोंके समान दृष्टिगोचर हो रही थीं। उनके बीच आपके ताऊ भीष्मजी, पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान प्रकाशित हो रहे थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | rathānīkāny adṛśyanta nagarāṇīva bhūriśaḥ | atīva śuśubhe tatra pitā te pūrṇacandravat |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Vast masses of chariot-formations came into view, resembling cities in their sheer size and density. In their midst your grandsire Bhishma shone exceedingly—radiant like the full moon—standing as the foremost emblem of the Kuru host’s might and resolve on the eve of battle.

Word by Word

रथानीकानिchariot-divisions (chariot-armies)

अदृश्यन्तwere seen / appeared

नगराणिcities

इवlike, as if

भूरिशःin great numbers, abundantly

अतीवexceedingly, very much

शुशुभेshone, was splendid

तत्रthere

पिताfather (here: elder/guardian figure)

तेof you / your

पूर्णचन्द्रवत्like the full moon

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Dhritarashtra

Bhishma

Chariot-formations (rathānīkāni)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes