Shloka 456

Devanagari script

अतुष्यद्‌ भरतश्रेष्ठो भीष्मो धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्‌ | सव्यसाची अर्जुनने उनके अभिप्रायको समझकर जब ठीक तकिया लगा दिया, तब धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले धर्मात्मा भरतश्रेष्ठ भीष्म बहुत संतुष्ट हुए

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | atuṣyad bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmo dharmārthatattvavit |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Bhīṣma, the foremost of the Bharatas—one who knew the true principles of dharma and artha—became deeply satisfied. (In context, this satisfaction arises when Arjuna, understanding Bhīṣma’s intention, properly arranged the support/pillow for him, reflecting attentive service to a righteous elder even amid the harsh ethics of war.)

Word by Word

• अतुष्यत्: was satisfied / became pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भरतश्रेष्ठः: the best of the Bharatas
• भरतश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्: knower of the principles of dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-अर्थ-तत्त्व-वित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna (Savyasācī)
• Bharatas (Kuru lineage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a battlefield setting, dharma is expressed through discernment and respectful service: a righteous elder who knows dharma and artha is pleased when his needs are understood and met without ego, showing that ethical conduct persists amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma becomes satisfied; the surrounding narration (as reflected in the given prose) indicates Arjuna understands Bhīṣma’s intention and properly arranges his support/pillow, prompting Bhīṣma’s contentment.