Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तथैव पाण्डवो भीष्मे दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीरयन्‌ । प्रत्यगृह्लादमेयात्मा महामेघमिवाचल:,परंतु असीम आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन जैसे पर्वत महामेघका सामना करता है, उसी प्रकार भीष्मपर दिव्यास्त्रोंका प्रयोग करते हुए उनका सामना करने लगे

Transliteration

tathaiva pāṇḍavo bhīṣme divyam astram udīrayan | pratyagṛhlādameyātmā mahāmegham ivācalaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: In the same manner, the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), of immeasurable inner strength and unshakable resolve, began to confront Bhīṣma by releasing celestial missiles—like a mountain standing firm against a great storm-cloud.

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

एवindeed, just

पाण्डवःthe Pandava (Arjuna)

भीष्मेupon/with regard to Bhishma

दिव्यम्divine

अस्त्रम्weapon (missile)

उदीरयन्uttering/launching (it)

प्रत्यगृह्लादम्counter-joy/cheer (i.e., causing a responsive thrill)

एयात्माwhose nature is immeasurable/unsurpassed

महामेघम्a great cloud

इवlike, as

अचलःa mountain

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)

Bhīṣma

divyāstra (celestial weapons)

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?

The verse highlights steadfastness and disciplined courage: even before a formidable elder-warrior like Bhīṣma, a kṣatriya must stand firm and act according to duty, using skill and restraint rather than fear or collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna confronting Bhīṣma directly, discharging divine missiles (astrāṇi) against him. The simile compares Arjuna’s unshaken stance to a mountain facing a massive storm-cloud.