Shloka 12
शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament
सुसंहता: सुतनवो व्यूढोरस्का: सुसंस्थिता: । प्रवादितेषु कुप्यन्ति हृष्पन्ति कलहेषु च
susaṃhatāḥ sutanavo vyūḍhoraskāḥ susaṃsthitāḥ | pravāditēṣu kupyanti hṛṣyanti kalahēṣu ca ||
Bhīṣma said: Men whose bodies are compact and well-knit, whose limbs are firm, whose chests are broad, and who stand steady in battle—when the war-drums and martial signals are sounded, they flare up with wrath and feel exhilaration amid clashes. For such warriors, the very tumult of combat becomes a source of joy.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma characterizes the warrior temperament: a well-trained, physically robust fighter is stirred by martial signals and finds exhilaration in combat. The verse highlights how innate disposition and training can make conflict emotionally energizing, a point relevant to discussions of kshatriya-dharma and the ethics of channeling aggression responsibly.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction, Bhishma is describing the qualities and reactions of true warriors. He notes that when battle is announced—through drums or signals—such men become fiercely aroused and even delighted in the clash, illustrating the mindset of those who stand firm in war.