Shloka 20
Gāndhārī’s Battlefield Survey: The Fallen and the Onset of Funeral Rites (शल्य-भगीरथ-भीष्म-द्रोणादि-दर्शनम्)
पालयान: पितु: शास्त्रमूर्ध्वरेता महायशा: । एष शान्तनव: शेते माधवाप्रतिमो युधि,माधव! पिताकी आज्ञाका पालन करते हुए महायशस्वी नैछ्लिक ब्रह्मचारी ये शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म जिनकी युद्धमें कहीं तुलना नहीं है, यहाँ सो रहे हैं
pālayan pituḥ śāstram ūrdhvaretā mahāyaśāḥ | eṣa śāntanavaḥ śete mādhavāpratimo yudhi, mādhava ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Upholding his father’s command, a lifelong celibate of great renown—this son of Śāntanu, Bhīṣma, unrivalled in battle—now lies here.” The line underscores the ethical weight of filial obedience and vowed self-restraint, even as the warrior who embodied them has fallen on the battlefield.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as steadfast fidelity to a father’s command and the power of lifelong self-restraint (brahmacarya). It suggests that moral greatness is measured not only by martial prowess but by unwavering commitment to vows and duty.
Vaiśaṃpāyana points out Bhīṣma—Śāntanu’s son—now lying fallen after the war. He recalls Bhīṣma’s defining traits: obedience to his father’s injunction and his famed celibate vow, while also noting his unmatched stature as a warrior.