Shloka 16

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)

Devanagari script

लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान्‌

Transliteration

lohitākṣo guḍākeśo nārāyaṇasahāyavān

Translation

Bhīṣma décrit Arjuna comme le héros aux yeux rouges, ferme dans sa résolution, affermi par la compagnie et le soutien de Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa). Ce vers souligne que la vraie puissance guerrière n’est pas seulement prouesse personnelle, mais force ancrée dans une alliance juste et dans la conduite divine.

Word by Word

• लोहिताक्षः: the red-eyed one
• लोहिताक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहिताक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुडाकेशः: Gudakesha (Arjuna; 'conqueror of sleep')
• गुडाकेशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडाकेश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नारायणसहायवान्: having Nārāyaṇa as helper/ally
• नारायणसहायवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणसहायवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna (Guḍākeśa)
• Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Strength and success in dharmic action arise from disciplined personal virtue (Guḍākeśa) joined with righteous companionship and divine guidance (Nārāyaṇa as sahāya). The verse highlights that ethical alignment and proper support elevate human effort.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Bhīṣma speaks about key warriors. Here he characterizes Arjuna with epithets and emphasizes that Arjuna fights with Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) as his ally, implying formidable power and moral backing on the Pāṇḍava side.