Shloka 23
Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies
हेमतालध्वजं भीष्म॑ राजते स्यन्दने स्थितम् | श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशुं ददृशु: कुरुपाण्डवा:
hemataladhvajaṃ bhīṣmaṃ rājate syandane sthitam | śvetābhra iva tīkṣṇāṃśuṃ dadṛśuḥ kuru-pāṇḍavāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Bhīṣma, standing upon his chariot with a banner gleaming like gold, shone forth. The Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas beheld him as one would behold the sharp-rayed sun emerging amid white clouds—an awe-inspiring sight that signals the formidable moral and martial weight of the elder entering the battle’s forefront.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral stature and martial responsibility can make a leader’s presence overwhelming to all sides. Bhīṣma’s radiance symbolizes authority earned through vows and duty, reminding readers that in dharmic conflict, personal greatness can inspire awe even amid tragic necessity.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma stands on his chariot with a brilliant banner, and both armies—Kuru and Pāṇḍava—watch him. The simile of the sun amid white clouds emphasizes Bhīṣma’s striking visibility and the moment’s heightened tension as battle leadership becomes manifest.