Shloka 23

भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्

Departure to Behold Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

ते ग्रसन्‍त इवाकाशं वेगवन्तो महाबला:

Transliteration

te grasant ivākāśaṃ vegavanto mahābalāḥ

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਉਹ ਮਹਾਬਲੀ, ਤੇਜ਼-ਗਤੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਘੋੜੇ ਮਾਨੋ ਆਕਾਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਨਿਗਲਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧੇ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਬੇਲਗਾਮ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਘੇਰ ਲੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• ग्रसन्तः: devouring, swallowing
• ग्रसन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, plural

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• वेगवन्तः: swift, impetuous
• वेगवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• महाबलाः: mighty-strong, very powerful
• महाबलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• ākāśa (sky/space)

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.