Shloka 46
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
मध्यंदिने यथा5<दित्यं तपन्तमिव तेजसा । न शेकुः पाण्डवेयस्य योधा भीष्म निरीक्षितुम्,उस समय भीष्म रणभूमिमें धूमरहित अग्निके समान खड़े थे। जैसे दुपहरीमें अपने तेजसे तपते हुए सूर्यकी ओर देखना कठिन है, उसी प्रकार पाण्डव-सेनाके सैनिक भीष्मकी ओर दृष्टिपात करनेमें भी असमर्थ हो गये
sañjaya uvāca | madhyaṃdine yathādityaṃ tapantam iva tejasā | na śekuḥ pāṇḍaveyasya yodhā bhīṣmam nirīkṣitum ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਜਿਵੇਂ ਦੁਪਹਿਰ ਵੇਲੇ ਤਪਦੇ ਸੂਰਜ ਵੱਲ ਤੱਕਣਾ ਔਖਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਂਡਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਯੋਧੇ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਵੱਲ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਵੀ ਨਾ ਕਰ ਸਕੇ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how tejas—radiant power born of prowess, discipline, and reputation—can overwhelm opponents even before weapons decide the outcome. Ethically, it points to the inner dimension of war: morale, fear, and the aura of a dharma-bound elder-warrior like Bhīṣma shape the battlefield as much as physical force.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma standing in the fight with smokeless-fire-like brilliance. The Pāṇḍava soldiers, intimidated by his blazing presence, are unable to fix their gaze on him—comparing their inability to looking at the scorching midday sun.