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Shloka 18

शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament

उग्रस्वरा मन्युमन्तो युद्धेष्वारावसारिण: । अधर्मज्ञावलिप्ताश्ष घोरा रौद्रप्रदर्शना:

ugrasvarā manyumanto yuddheṣv ārāvasāriṇaḥ | adharmajñāvaliptāś ca ghorā raudrapradarśanāḥ ||

ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು— ಕೆಲವರು ಕಠಿಣಸ್ವರದವರು, ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿರುವವರು; ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಗರ್ಜಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಸಂಚರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಧರ್ಮವಿವೇಕವಿಲ್ಲ; ಅಹಂಕಾರದಿಂದ ಉಬ್ಬಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ; ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಘೋರರು, ಸ್ವಭಾವದಲ್ಲಿ ರೌದ್ರರು. ಅವರ ದರ್ಶನವೇ ಭೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತದೆ।

उग्रस्वराःhaving harsh voices
उग्रस्वराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउग्रस्वर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
मन्युमन्तःwrathful, full of anger
मन्युमन्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्युमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
युद्धेषुin battles
युद्धेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयुद्ध
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
आरावसारिणःmoving about roaring/crying out
आरावसारिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआरावसारिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अधर्मज्ञाःknowers of adharma / not knowing dharma (contextual)
अधर्मज्ञाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअधर्मज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अवलिप्ताःarrogant, puffed up
अवलिप्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअवलिप्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
घोराःterrible, dreadful
घोराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रौद्रप्रदर्शनाःdisplaying fierceness
रौद्रप्रदर्शनाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरौद्रप्रदर्शन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
battle (yuddha)

Educational Q&A

Bhīṣma highlights moral degeneration: when anger and pride dominate, a person becomes ignorant of dharma, and even their speech and conduct turn violent and fear-inducing—an ethical warning against cultivating such traits, especially in contexts of power and conflict.

In Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma is describing a type of fearsome, unrighteous warrior—marked by harsh voice, roaring behavior in battle, and lack of dharma—using this characterization to support a broader discourse on conduct and righteousness.