Mahabharata 11.23.19 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 23, Shloka 19

Gāndhārī’s Battlefield Survey: The Fallen and the Onset of Funeral Rites (शल्य-भगीरथ-भीष्म-द्रोणादि-दर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

अतूलपूर्ण गाड़्नेयस्त्रिभि्बाणै: समन्वितम्‌ | उपधायोपधानाग्रयं दत्तं गाण्डीवधन्चना

Transliteration

atūlapūrṇaṃ gāḍhneyas tribhir bāṇaiḥ samanvitam | upadhāyopadhānāgryaṃ dattaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ビーシュマは綿を詰めた枕を受け取らなかった。代わりに、ガーンディーヴァを操るアルジュナが授けた三本の矢で作られた、最上の頭枕を受け入れたのである。この場面は、苦痛のただ中にあっても戦士のダルマにかなう清貧の受容を示す。慰めは奢りに求めず、身分とその時の厳粛さにふさわしいものに求めるのだ。

Word by Word

• अतूलपूर्णम्: filled with cotton (wool-like stuffing)
• अतूलपूर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतूलपूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गाढनेयम्: to be pressed/used as a cushion; fit for firm support
• गाढनेयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाढनेय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: by arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समन्वितम्: provided/formed with; furnished with
• समन्वितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वि + क्त (समन्वित)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपधाय: having placed (as a support)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + धा (धातु) (ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund (absolutive), Active

• उपधानाग्र्यम्: the best pillow/cushion
• उपधानाग्र्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधान + अग्र्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (दत्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गाण्डीवधन्वना: by the wielder of Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna)
• गाण्डीवधन्वना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव + धन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna
• Gāṇḍīva
• three arrows (bāṇa)
• headrest/pillow (upadhāna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in extreme pain, Bhīṣma maintains kṣatriya-austerity and dignity: he refuses soft luxury (a cotton pillow) and accepts a headrest consistent with the warrior context—arrows given by Arjuna—showing restraint, self-mastery, and adherence to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the aftermath of the war (Strī Parva context of grief and consequences), Bhīṣma is being attended to. A cotton-stuffed pillow is not taken; instead, a superior headrest made from three arrows—given by Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva—is placed for him.