Shloka 52
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
विधुन्वन्नसिमाकाशे तथा युद्धचिकीर्षया । तदनन्तर भगदेवताके नेत्रोंका नाश करनेवाले महान् बल और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न शूलपाणि भगवान् महादेव काल और अग्निके तुल्य तेजस्वी खड्गको तथा बिजलीसहित मेघके समान चमकीली तीन कोनोंवाली ढालको हाथमें लेकर भाँति-भाँतिके मार्गोंसे विचरने लगे; और युद्ध करनेकी इच्छासे वह तलवार आकाशमें घुमाने लगे || ५०-५१ ह ।। तस्य नादं विनदतो महाहासं च मुज्चत:
vidhunvann asim ākāśe tathā yuddha-cikīrṣayā | tad-anantaraṁ bhagadevatāke netrāṇāṁ nāśaṁ karṇe-vāle mahān bala-parākrama-sampannaḥ śūla-pāṇiḥ bhagavān mahādevaḥ kāla-agnī-tulya-tejasvī khaḍgaṁ tathā vidyut-sahita-megha-samāna-camkīlī trikoṇāḍhālaṁ haste gṛhītvā bhānti-bhānti-ke mārgaiḥ vicarane lage; yuddha-karaṇe-kī icchā-se saḥ talavāra ākāśa-meṁ ghumāne lage || 50–51 ha || tasya nādaṁ vinadataḥ mahāhāsaṁ ca muñcataḥ
ビーシュマは語った。「戦いを望み、剣を大空に振り回した。すると、無量の力と武威を備え、バガの眼を滅した三叉戟の主シュールパーニたる大主マハーデーヴァは、時と火のごとく赫々と燃える剣と、稲妻を帯びた雷雲のように輝く三角の盾とを手に取った。さまざまな道筋と機略をもって駆け巡り、戦わんとする欲により、なおも剣を天に円く巡らせた。そして咆哮し、恐るべき大笑を放ちながら……」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the overwhelming, morally charged force of the divine when dharma is at stake: Śiva’s radiance and terrifying majesty symbolize that cosmic order can manifest as irresistible power, not merely gentle instruction. It frames warfare here not as ordinary violence but as an arena where divine authority and ethical consequence become visible.
Bhishma describes Mahadeva (Śiva) preparing for combat: he brandishes a blazing sword and a lightning-bright shield, moves through various battle-paths and maneuvers, and emits a thunderous roar and great laugh—signals of a divine warrior entering the field.