Shloka 50
भीष्मस्य भीमसेन-निरोधः
Bhīṣma checks Bhīmasena; matched engagements intensify
असंख्येयगुणाधार जय सर्वपरायण । नारायण सुदुष्पार जय शार्ज्ुधनुर्धर
asaṅkhyeyaguṇādhāra jaya sarvaparāyaṇa | nārāyaṇa suduṣpāra jaya śārṅgadhanurdhara || yasyā nābhau samutpannaṃ ādi-padmaṃ sanātanam | viśālākṣa mahādeva lokādhipataye namaḥ || bhūta-bhavya-bhavat-svāmin jaya te jagatāṃ pate | saumyaṃ te rūpam īśāna svayambhū brahma te sutaḥ || asaṅkhyeyaguṇādhāra sarvaśaraṇadāyaka | nārāyaṇa suduṣpāra jaya śārṅgadhanurdhara ||
ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ଗୁଣର ଆଧାର, ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ପରମ ଆଶ୍ରୟ—ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ। ନାରାୟଣ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ମହିମା ଦୁଷ୍ପାର; ଶାର୍ଙ୍ଗଧନୁଧାରୀ—ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ। ଯାହାଙ୍କ ନାଭିରୁ ଆଦି ପଦ୍ମ ଉଦ୍ଭବ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ନୟନ ବିଶାଳ, ଯିଏ ଲୋକେଶ୍ୱରମାନଙ୍କର ମଧ୍ୟ ଈଶ୍ୱର—ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ। ଭୂତ-ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ-ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନର ସ୍ୱାମୀ, ସୌମ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱରୂପ—ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ; ସ୍ୱୟଂଭୂ ବ୍ରହ୍ମା ମଧ୍ୟ ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ଜନକ ମାନି ପୁତ୍ର ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ultimate refuge and authority lie in Nārāyaṇa: He is the ground of innumerable virtues, sovereign over time (past–present–future), and even the source of cosmic creation (the lotus and Brahmā). In a dharmic frame, devotion to the highest Lord reorients the meaning of conflict toward protection, rightful order, and surrender to a transcendent moral center.
In the Bhīṣma Parva war setting, Bhīṣma utters a hymn of praise (stuti) to Nārāyaṇa/Viṣṇu—identified by the epithet ‘bearer of the Śārṅga bow.’ He proclaims the Lord’s cosmic signs (navel-lotus, Brahmā as son) and repeatedly offers salutations, emphasizing the Lord’s unfathomable greatness amid the unfolding battle.