Shloka 53
तमेक॑ छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् । भीष्म भागीरथीपुत्र प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून्
tam ekaṁ chādayāmāsur meghā iva divākaram | bhīṣma bhāgīrathīputra pratapantaṁ raṇe ripūn, paraṁtapa ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Así como las nubes velan al sol, así aquellos héroes cubrieron a Bhīṣma—rodeándolo con masas de infantería, caballería y carros, y con incontables flechas. Pero en ese momento Bhīṣma, hijo de la Bhāgīrathī (el Ganges), permanecía solo en el campo de batalla, abrasando con fiereza las filas enemigas—oh domador de adversarios.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and warrior-duty under overwhelming pressure: even when surrounded and ‘covered’ by enemy forces, Bhīṣma continues to act with unwavering resolve, embodying kṣatriya valor and endurance.
Sañjaya describes how many warriors converge on Bhīṣma, showering him with innumerable arrows and surrounding him with mixed troops, like clouds obscuring the sun; nevertheless, Bhīṣma stands alone and powerfully harasses the enemy in the thick of battle.