Shloka 97

Devanagari script

उत्तरायणमन्विच्छन्‌ भीष्म: कुरुपितामह: । तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय गंगा हिमवतः सुता

Transliteration

uttarāyaṇam anvicchan bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ | tasya tanmatam ājñāya gaṅgā himavataḥ sutā

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Bhīṣma, l’aïeul des Kurus, recherchant l’auspicieux cours septentrional du soleil (uttarāyaṇa), fixa son esprit sur ce moment. Comprenant son dessein, Gaṅgā —fille de l’Himavat— répondit en conséquence.»

Word by Word

उत्तरायणम्the northern course (of the sun); Uttarayana

अन्विच्छन्seeking, desiring

भीष्मःBhishma

कुरुपितामहःthe grandsire of the Kurus

तस्यof him; his

तत्that (intention/decision)

मतम्opinion, resolve, intention

आज्ञायhaving known, understanding

गङ्गाGanga

हिमवतःof Himavat (the Himalaya)

सुताdaughter

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Kuru lineage (Kurus)

Gaṅgā

Himavat (Himalaya)

Uttarāyaṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic composure and intentionality at life’s end: Bhīṣma waits for an auspicious, ritually significant time (uttarāyaṇa), showing mastery over desire and fear, and aligning personal resolve with sacred order (kāla).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows, is waiting for the onset of uttarāyaṇa to depart. Gaṅgā, his divine mother, understands his resolve and is implied to act or appear in accordance with his intention.