Shloka 12

शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament

Devanagari script

सुसंहता: सुतनवो व्यूढोरस्का: सुसंस्थिता: । प्रवादितेषु कुप्यन्ति हृष्पन्ति कलहेषु च,जिनके शरीर गठीले, छाती चौड़ी और अंग-प्रत्यंग सुडौल होते हैं, जो युद्धमें डटकर खड़े होनेवाले हैं, वे वीर पुरुष युद्धका धौसा सुनते ही कुपित हो उठते हैं। उन्हें लड़ने- भिड़नेमें ही आनन्द आता है

Transliteration

susaṃhatāḥ sutanavo vyūḍhoraskāḥ susaṃsthitāḥ | pravāditēṣu kupyanti hṛṣyanti kalahēṣu ca ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ദേഹം കെട്ടുറപ്പുള്ളവർ, അംഗങ്ങൾ ദൃഢമായവർ, വിശാലവക്ഷസ്ഥലമുള്ളവർ, റണത്തിൽ ഉറച്ചു നിൽക്കുന്നവർ—യുദ്ധനാദവും ഭേരീധ്വനിയും മുഴങ്ങുമ്പോൾ ക്രോധം ജ്വലിപ്പിക്കുകയും കലഹത്തിനിടയിൽ ഹർഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

सुसंहताःwell-knit, compact (in body)

सुतनवःmen of fine bodies / well-formed-bodied (ones)

व्यूढोरस्काःbroad-chested (having expanded chests)

सुसंस्थिताःwell-set, well-built / well-positioned

प्रवादितेषुwhen (they are) sounded/played

कुप्यन्तिthey become angry

हृष्यन्तिthey rejoice / are thrilled

कलहेषुin fights, in quarrels/battles

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma characterizes the warrior temperament: a well-trained, physically robust fighter is stirred by martial signals and finds exhilaration in combat. The verse highlights how innate disposition and training can make conflict emotionally energizing, a point relevant to discussions of kshatriya-dharma and the ethics of channeling aggression responsibly.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction, Bhishma is describing the qualities and reactions of true warriors. He notes that when battle is announced—through drums or signals—such men become fiercely aroused and even delighted in the clash, illustrating the mindset of those who stand firm in war.