Shloka 18

Devanagari script

तालेन महता भीष्म: पञ्चतारेण केतुना । विमलादित्यसंकाशस्तस्थौ कुरुचमूपरि,कौरवसेनाके प्रधान सेनापति भीष्म भी ताड़ और पाँच तारोंके चिह्नसे युक्त विशाल ध्वजा-पताकासे सुशोभित रथपर जा बैठे। उस समय वे निर्मल तेजोमय सूर्यदेवके समान प्रकाशित हो रहे थे

Transliteration

tālena mahatā bhīṣmaḥ pañcatāreṇa ketunā | vimalādityasaṅkāśas tasthau kurucamūpari ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「ビーシュマはクル軍の上に立ち、その戦車には大いなる椰子（タール）の紋と、五つ星の印を戴く旗が掲げられていた。汚れなき太陽のごとく輝き、カウラヴァ軍の第一の総大将として、戦の門口に姿を現した。」

Word by Word

तालेनwith a palm-tree (emblem)

महताgreat, huge

भीष्मःBhishma

पञ्चतारेणwith five stars

केतुनाwith a banner/standard

विमलpure, spotless

आदित्यsun

संकाशःresembling, like

तस्थौstood, remained

कुरुof the Kurus

चमूin/over the army

उपरिupon, above

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Kuru army (Kaurava host)

banner/standard (ketu)

palm emblem (tāla)

five-star mark (pañcatārā)

Sun (Āditya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of role-duty (svadharma) in a war setting: Bhīṣma, as the appointed commander, embodies steadiness, authority, and readiness to bear responsibility. The sun-like radiance and prominent emblems underscore how leadership is publicly signified and how a commander’s presence shapes the morale and order of an army.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma has taken his position over the Kuru forces, seated/standing on his chariot distinguished by a great palm emblem and a five-star banner. He appears brilliantly radiant, marking him as the principal सेनापति (chief commander) of the Kaurava army as the battle is about to proceed.