Shloka 9
Sainyavinyāsa–Lakṣaṇa (Disposition of Armies and Battlefield Omens) | सैन्यविन्यास–लक्षणम्
भीष्मो5ग्रत: सर्वसैन्यस्य वृद्ध: श्वेतच्छत्र: श्वेतधनु: सखड्गः । श्वेतोष्णीष: पाण्डुरेण ध्वजेन श्वेतैरश्वेः श्वेतशैलप्रकाशै:,हमारी सम्पूर्ण सेनाके आगे बूढ़े पितामह भीष्म थे। उनके सिरपर श्वेत रंगकी पगड़ी थी और श्वेत वर्णका ही छत्र तना हुआ था। उनके धनुष और खडग भी श्वेत ही थे। वे श्वेत शैलके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाले श्वेत घोड़ों और श्वेत ध्वजसे सुशोभित हो रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmo 'grataḥ sarvasainyasya vṛddhaḥ śvetacchatraḥ śvetadhanuḥ sakhadgaḥ | śvetoṣṇīṣaḥ pāṇḍureṇa dhvajena śvetair aśvaiḥ śvetaśailaprakāśaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: At the very front of the entire army stood the aged Bhīṣma. He was marked by whiteness—his parasol, his bow, and his sword; a white turban on his head; a pale banner above him; and horses gleaming white like a mountain of snow. The scene presents Bhīṣma as the venerable elder leading the Kaurava host, his austere, luminous appearance underscoring both the gravity of the war and the moral weight carried by an elder bound to duty even amid tragic conflict.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma in war: an aged, revered elder leads the army not from personal desire but from obligation and role. Bhīṣma’s luminous, austere imagery suggests purity of vow and discipline, while also intensifying the tragedy that such virtue is drawn into destructive conflict.
Sañjaya narrates to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield arrangement, focusing on Bhīṣma at the head of the Kaurava forces. He describes Bhīṣma’s striking white insignia—parasol, weapons, turban, banner, and snow-bright horses—emphasizing his prominence and commanding presence.