Shloka 57
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
हैमं चन्द्रार्कसंकाशं कवचं यस्य दृश्यते । जातरूपशिरस्त्राणं मनस्तापयतीव मे
arjuna uvāca |
haimaṁ candrārkasaṅkāśaṁ kavacaṁ yasya dṛśyate |
jātarūpaśirastrāṇaṁ manastāpayatīva me ||
アルジュナは言った。「月と太陽のように輝く黄金の鎧をまとい、兜もまた純金である者——その姿を見るだけで、悲しみが我が心を焼くかのようだ。あの大勇士は、我らの大祖父、シャーンタヌの子ビーシュマ。王者の輝きと相応しさを備えながら、ドゥルヨーダナの命に身を置いている。不義の側に結びつけられたこの偉大さが、我が胸を責め立てる。」
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a central Mahābhārata ethic: greatness and virtue can be morally compromised when bound by misplaced loyalty. Arjuna’s anguish arises from seeing a revered elder, radiant and worthy, nevertheless serving an unrighteous leadership—showing the tension between personal vows/obedience and the higher demands of dharma.
Arjuna identifies a brilliantly armoured warrior and reacts with inner pain. He recognizes him as Bhīṣma, the Kuru grandsire (son of Śāntanu), and laments that despite Bhīṣma’s eminence he is acting under Duryodhana’s authority, which Arjuna views as ethically troubling.