Shloka 57
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
हैमं चन्द्रार्कसंकाशं कवचं यस्य दृश्यते । जातरूपशिरस्त्राणं मनस्तापयतीव मे
arjuna uvāca |
haimaṁ candrārkasaṅkāśaṁ kavacaṁ yasya dṛśyate |
jātarūpaśirastrāṇaṁ manastāpayatīva me ||
Arjuna berkata: “Dia yang kelihatan memakai zirah emas yang bersinar seperti bulan dan matahari, dan bertopi besi daripada emas tulen—melihatnya seakan-akan membakar fikiranku dengan dukacita. Kerana pahlawan perkasa itu ialah datuk agung kita, Bhīṣma, putera Śāntanu: walaupun dikurniai kemegahan diraja dan kelayakan, dia telah menundukkan diri di bawah perintah Duryodhana. Melihat kebesaran sedemikian terikat pada pihak yang tidak benar menyeksa hatiku.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a central Mahābhārata ethic: greatness and virtue can be morally compromised when bound by misplaced loyalty. Arjuna’s anguish arises from seeing a revered elder, radiant and worthy, nevertheless serving an unrighteous leadership—showing the tension between personal vows/obedience and the higher demands of dharma.
Arjuna identifies a brilliantly armoured warrior and reacts with inner pain. He recognizes him as Bhīṣma, the Kuru grandsire (son of Śāntanu), and laments that despite Bhīṣma’s eminence he is acting under Duryodhana’s authority, which Arjuna views as ethically troubling.