Shloka 76

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

Devanagari script

दंशित: पाण्डुरेणाहं कवचेन वपुष्मता

Transliteration

daṁśitaḥ pāṇḍureṇāhaṁ kavacena vapuṣmatā

Translation

Bhishma said: “I am girded and armed, clad in a bright, pale-hued cuirass that covers my powerful frame.”

Word by Word

• दंशितः: armed/accoutred (lit. furnished with weapons/gear)
• दंशितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंशित (दंश् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डुरेण: with a pale/whitish
• पाण्डुरेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• कवचेन: with armor
• कवचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वपुष्मता: with a splendid/strong body; bodily, corpulent
• वपुष्मता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वपुष्मत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• kavaca (armor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined readiness: one must be properly equipped and composed to meet impending duty, especially when war becomes unavoidable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma speaks in the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, describing himself as fully armed and wearing a pale/bright cuirass—signaling that the conflict is moving from counsel and negotiation toward battle.