Shloka 36
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
तेजसा दीप्यमानस्तु वारणोत्तममास्थित: । भगदत्तो ययौ राजा यथा वज्रधरस्तथा
tejasā dīpyamānas tu vāraṇottamam āsthitaḥ | bhagadatto yayau rājā yathā vajradharas tathā ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಗಜರಾಜನ ಮೇಲೆ ಏರಿದ್ದ ರಾಜ ಭಗದತ್ತನು ತನ್ನ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ದೀಪ್ತನಾಗಿ ಯುದ್ಧಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದುವರಿದನು; ವಜ್ರಧಾರಿ ಇಂದ್ರನಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how external brilliance—tejas, royal display, and formidable mounts—can project authority and inspire fear or confidence in war. Ethically, it reminds the reader that such splendor is a surface phenomenon within a conflict whose deeper stakes concern dharma and the consequences of violence.
Sañjaya describes King Bhagadatta advancing for battle, seated on an excellent elephant and shining with energy, likened to Indra bearing the thunderbolt. It is a battlefield tableau emphasizing Bhagadatta’s imposing presence among the warriors.