Shloka 16

अनीकव्यूहप्रतिव्यूहः

Counter-deployment of Divisions and the Opening Tumult

Devanagari script

एतान्यनीकानि महानुभावं गूहन्ति मेघा इव रश्मिमन्तम्‌ । एतानि हत्वा पुरुषप्रवीर काड्क्षस्व युद्ध भरतर्षभेण,जैसे बादल अंशुमाली सूर्यको ढक लेते हैं, उसी प्रकार ये सारी सेनाएँ इन महानुभाव भीष्मको आच्छादित किये हुए हैं। नरवीर अर्जुन! तुम पहले इन सेनाओंको मारकर भरतकुलभूषण भीष्मजीके साथ युद्धकी अभिलाषा करो

Transliteration

etāny anīkāni mahānubhāvaṁ gūhanti meghā iva raśmimantam | etāni hatvā puruṣapravīra kāṅkṣasva yuddhaṁ bharatarṣabheṇa ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “These battle-formations are concealing the great-souled Bhīṣma, just as clouds veil the radiant sun. O foremost of men, Arjuna—first strike down these surrounding forces; then seek the direct combat you desire with Bhīṣma, the bull of the Bharatas.”

Word by Word

• {'etāni': 'these', 'anīkāni': 'armies

• divisions of troops', 'mahānubhāvam': 'the great-souled one

• a person of mighty stature (here, Bhīṣma)', 'gūhanti': 'hide

• cover', 'meghāḥ': 'clouds', 'iva': 'like

• as', 'raśmimantam': 'radiant

• possessing rays (the sun)', 'hatvā': 'having slain

• having struck down', 'puruṣa-pravīra': 'foremost hero among men', 'kāṅkṣasva': 'desire

• aspire to', 'yuddham': 'battle

• combat', 'bharatarṣabheṇa': 'with the bull of the Bharatas (Bhīṣma)'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Arjuna
• Bhīṣma
• Bharatas (Bharata lineage)
• Sun (raśmimān/āditya implied)
• Clouds (meghāḥ)
• Armies/battle-formations (anīkāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes disciplined strategy and purposeful courage: do not rush toward a famed opponent while he is shielded by supporting forces; first remove the protective screen, then engage the principal warrior. Ethically, it aligns valor with prudence—heroism guided by clear judgment rather than impulsive bravado.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu addresses Arjuna on the battlefield, pointing out that Bhīṣma is presently obscured by surrounding troop-formations. Using the image of clouds hiding the sun, he urges Arjuna to cut through these forces first and only then seek the desired direct duel with Bhīṣma.