Shloka 16

भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः

Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief

Devanagari script

वैशग्पायन उवाच तच्छुत्वा पार्थिवा: सर्वे वासुदेवस्य भाषितम्‌ | अब्लुवन्तो मुखं राज्ञ: समुदैक्षन्त भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--भरतनन्दन! भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णका यह कथन सुनकर सब राजा कुछ न बोलते हुए केवल महाराज युधिष्ठिरके मुँहकी ओर देखने लगे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tac chrutvā pārthivāḥ sarve vāsudevasya bhāṣitam | abruvanto mukhaṃ rājñaḥ samudaikṣanta bhārata ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O Bhārata, having heard Vāsudeva’s words, all the kings fell silent; without speaking, they fixed their gaze upon the king’s face—looking to Yudhiṣṭhira for the decisive response.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

तत्that

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

पार्थिवाःkings

सर्वेall

वासुदेवस्यof Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

भाषितम्speech; what was spoken

अब्रुवन्तःnot speaking (while not saying)

मुखम्face

राज्ञःof the king

समुदैक्षन्तlooked at; gazed towards

भारतO Bhārata

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

the kings (pārthivāḥ)

the king (Yudhiṣṭhira, implied by context)

Bhārata (addressee)

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?

After wise counsel is given, especially by a figure like Kṛṣṇa, the ethical burden shifts to the rightful leader to respond with dharmic judgment. The kings’ silence highlights restraint, respect for hierarchy, and the seriousness of deciding matters of war and peace.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) has spoken in the royal assembly. Hearing him, the assembled kings do not immediately react; instead, they look toward the king—understood here as Yudhiṣṭhira—awaiting his response and decision.