Shloka 8

भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue

Devanagari script

कवचेन महाबाहो सोमार्ककृतलक्ष्मणा | धनुर्धरो बद्धतूणो बद्धगोधाड्गुलित्रवान्‌

Transliteration

kavacena mahābāho somārkakṛtalakṣmaṇā | dhanurdharo baddhatūṇo baddhagodhāṅgulitravān ||

Translation

Wahai yang berlengan perkasa! Paraśurāma mengenakan baju zirah indah bertanda lambang bulan dan matahari. Ia memanggul busurnya, mengikat tabung anak panah di punggung, serta membalut pelindung jari dari kulit biawak untuk menjaga tangannya.

Word by Word

• कवचेन: with (a) armor
• कवचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सोम: moon
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• अर्क: sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• कृत: made, fashioned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• लक्ष्मणा: with a mark/emblem
• लक्ष्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धनुः-धरः: bow-bearer, archer
• धनुः-धरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्ध-तूणः: having a fastened quiver
• बद्ध-तूणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्धतूण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (बद्ध) used adjectivally

• बद्ध-गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रवान्: wearing finger-guards of iguana-hide (fastened on)
• बद्ध-गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोधाङ्गुलित्रवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Moon (Soma)
• Sun (Arka)
• armor (kavaca)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• quiver (tūṇa/tūṇīra)
• finger-guards (aṅgulitra/aṅguli-trāṇa)
• iguana-hide (godhā-carma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined preparedness expected of a warrior: proper arms and protective gear are not mere ornament but signs of readiness to uphold kṣatriya-dharma in a grave conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a warrior’s battle-ready appearance—wearing armor marked with lunar and solar emblems, carrying a bow, with a quiver strapped on, and using finger-protectors—emphasizing the seriousness and formality of the impending martial encounter.