Shloka 53
तमेक॑ छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् । भीष्म भागीरथीपुत्र प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून्
tam ekaṁ chādayāmāsur meghā iva divākaram | bhīṣma bhāgīrathīputra pratapantaṁ raṇe ripūn, paraṁtapa ||
Sañjaya berkata: Seperti awan menutupi matahari, demikianlah para wira itu menyelubungi Bhīṣma—mengepungnya dengan himpunan infantri, kavaleri dan kereta perang, serta dengan anak panah yang tidak terbilang. Namun pada saat itu Bhīṣma, putera Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), berdiri seorang diri di medan laga, membakar barisan musuh dengan kegagahannya—wahai penunduk musuh.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and warrior-duty under overwhelming pressure: even when surrounded and ‘covered’ by enemy forces, Bhīṣma continues to act with unwavering resolve, embodying kṣatriya valor and endurance.
Sañjaya describes how many warriors converge on Bhīṣma, showering him with innumerable arrows and surrounding him with mixed troops, like clouds obscuring the sun; nevertheless, Bhīṣma stands alone and powerfully harasses the enemy in the thick of battle.