Shloka 23

भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्

Departure to Behold Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

ते ग्रसन्‍त इवाकाशं वेगवन्तो महाबला:

Transliteration

te grasant ivākāśaṃ vegavanto mahābalāḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Yang gagah lagi pantas itu mara seolah-olah menelan langit—gambaran daya yang mengatasi segalanya dan momentum yang tidak terbendung, menandakan bahawa kekuatan tanpa kendali dapat tampak seakan-akan menghabiskan seluruh ruang di hadapannya.

Word by Word

तेthey/those

ग्रसन्तःdevouring, swallowing

इवas if, like

आकाशम्the sky

वेगवन्तःswift, impetuous

महाबलाःmighty-strong, very powerful

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

ākāśa (sky/space)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a striking simile—'as if swallowing the sky'—to convey how immense power and speed can appear all-consuming; ethically, it invites reflection on how unchecked force can overwhelm boundaries and must be governed by dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a group of mighty, fast-moving figures whose advance is so formidable that it is likened to devouring the sky, emphasizing their overwhelming presence and irresistible motion.