Shloka 14

अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

लोकवीरीौ महेष्वासौ त्यक्तात्मानौ च भारत | प्रत्ययं परिरक्षन्ती महत्‌ कर्म करिष्यत:

Transliteration

lokavīrau maheṣvāsau tyaktātmānau ca bhārata | pratyayaṁ parirakṣantau mahat karma kariṣyataḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Bhārata ! Ces deux héros, célèbres dans le monde et puissants archers, agiront dans l’oubli d’eux-mêmes. Préservant leur serment et leur honneur, ils ne se soucieront pas de leur propre corps et déploieront une grande vaillance sur le champ de bataille, accomplissant une œuvre capitale.»

Word by Word

• लोकवीरौ: the two heroes of the world
• लोकवीरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकवीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महेष्वासौ: the two great bowmen
• महेष्वासौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• त्यक्तात्मानौ: self-abandoning / careless of their own lives
• त्यक्तात्मानौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्तात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रत्ययम्: trust / confidence
• प्रत्ययम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परिरक्षन्तौ: protecting / safeguarding
• परिरक्षन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष्
• Form: Present, Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed / act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• करिष्यतः: they two will do / will perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• two mighty archers (unnamed in this verse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates fidelity to one’s pledge (pratyaya) and honor as a central kṣatriya ethic: true greatness is shown when warriors protect trust and reputation even at personal risk, placing duty above bodily attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra as ‘Bhārata,’ foretells that two famed warrior-kings (great archers) will soon undertake a decisive martial action, fighting with disregard for their own safety in order to uphold their pledged word and standing.