Shloka 25

Devanagari script

भीष्मः सेनापतिरभूदादौ दौर्योधने बले / पाण्डवानां शिखण्डी च तयोर्युद्धं बभूव ह / शस्त्राशस्त्रि महाघोरं धसरात्रं शराशरि

Transliteration

bhīṣmaḥ senāpatirabhūdādau dauryodhane bale / pāṇḍavānāṃ śikhaṇḍī ca tayoryuddhaṃ babhūva ha / śastrāśastri mahāghoraṃ dhasarātraṃ śarāśari

Translation

Pada mulanya, dalam bala Duryodhana, Bhisma menjadi panglima; di pihak Pandava berdiri Sikhandi. Lalu terjadilah pertempuran antara mereka berdua—senjata melawan senjata—amat menggerunkan, berlangsung sepuluh malam, dengan hujan anak panah dari kedua-dua pihak.

Word by Word

bhīṣmaḥBhīṣma

senāpatiḥcommander of the army

abhūtbecame/was

ādauat first, in the beginning

dauryodhanein/for Duryodhana’s (side)

balein the army/force

pāṇḍavānāmof the Pāṇḍavas

śikhaṇḍīŚikhaṇḍī

caand

tayoḥof those two (of them)

yuddhambattle

babhūvacame to be, occurred

haindeed

śastra-aśastriwith weapons and without weapons (i.e., all kinds)

mahāghoramvery terrible

dhasarātramlasting (many) nights; (text uncertain)

śarāśariwith arrows and without arrows / of arrows (text uncertain)

Speaker

Narratorial verse (not clearly Vishnu↔Garuda dialogue from this excerpt)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Roles and outcomes in war are shaped by prior vows, boons, and karmic entanglements; even great heroes meet destined limits.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma and the constraint of embodied duty; the inevitability of time (kāla) within saṃsāra.

Application: Acknowledge that power and position do not remove vulnerability; plan with humility, and avoid pride in authority.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (1.145) sequence: Bhīṣma’s command, Śikhaṇḍī’s role, and the lead-in to Bhīṣma’s meditation on Viṣṇu

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Duryodhana

Pandavas

Shikhandi

FAQs

What is the significance of Bhishma being appointed commander in the war narrative?

It marks the opening phase of the Kurukṣetra war, where Bhīṣma leads the Kaurava forces and the conflict intensifies around his near-invincibility and vows.

Why is Shikhandi mentioned alongside the Pandavas in relation to Bhishma?

Śikhaṇḍī is central to the strategy against Bhīṣma, since Bhīṣma’s code prevents him from fighting Śikhaṇḍī as a full opponent, enabling the Pandavas to confront him effectively.

What practical lesson can be drawn from this verse today?

It highlights how leadership and ethical constraints shape outcomes: personal vows and principles can decisively influence even large-scale conflicts.