Shloka 77
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
पाण्डुरं कार्मुकं गृह प्रायां भरतसत्तम । भरतश्रेष्ठ! मैंने अपने शरीरपर श्वेतवर्णका कवच धारण करके श्वेत धनुष हाथमें लेकर यात्रा की ।।
pāṇḍuraṃ kārmukaṃ gṛhya prāyāṃ bharatasattama | pāṇḍureṇātapatreṇa priyamāṇena mūrdhani naraśvara | śvetavarṇaṃ kavacaṃ dhṛtvā śvetadhanuḥ pāṇau kṛtvā yātrāṃ kṛtavān | śvetacāmarāṇi ca ubhayataḥ vījitāni | mama vastrāṇi uṣṇīṣaṃ sarvāṇi ābharaṇāni ca śvetāni eva āsan ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô le meilleur des Bharata, je partis en saisissant un arc d’un blanc pâle. Ô seigneur des hommes, un parasol blanc, agréable à voir, était tenu au-dessus de ma tête, et de chaque côté l’on agitait des chasse-mouches blancs en queue de yak. Revêtu d’une cuirasse blanche et portant dans ma main un arc blanc, je m’avançai ; mes vêtements, mon turban et tous mes ornements étaient eux aussi blancs.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the outward marks of royal and kshatriya dignity—parasol, chowries, armor, and weapons—suggesting that public symbols of authority and readiness for duty (especially martial duty) accompany a ruler’s or warrior’s role. It underscores the ethic of bearing one’s station with visible discipline and honor.
Bhishma is recounting a past departure or procession: he describes setting out with a pale-white bow, wearing white armor, with a white parasol above and white fans on either side, and dressed entirely in white. The scene emphasizes ceremonial grandeur and martial readiness.