Shloka 3

स ददर्श महात्मानं शरतल्पगतं तदा । जन्मशब्यागतं वीरं कार्तिकेयमिव प्रभुम्‌,उस समय उसने देखा, महात्मा भीष्म शरशय्यापर सो रहे हैं, ठीक उसी तरह जैसे वीरवर भगवान्‌ कार्तिकेय जन्मकालमें शरशय्या (सरकण्डोंके बिछावन)-पर सोये थे

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ śaratālpagataṃ tadā | janmaśayyāgataṃ vīraṃ kārtikeyam iva prabhum ||

Disse Sañjaya: Então ele viu o magnânimo Bhīṣma deitado sobre um leito de flechas — como o heroico Senhor Kārtikeya, que ao nascer foi colocado sobre um leito de juncos.

सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ददर्शsaw
ददर्श:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
महात्मानम्the great-souled one
महात्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शरतल्पगतम्lying on the bed of arrows
शरतल्पगतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootशरतल्पगत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
जन्मशब्यागतम्who had come to the birth-bed (reed-bed)
जन्मशब्यागतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootजन्मशब्यागत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वीरम्the hero
वीरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
कार्तिकेयम्Kartikeya
कार्तिकेयम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकार्तिकेय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
प्रभुम्the lord
प्रभुम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīṣma
Ś
śara-tālpa (bed of arrows)
K
Kārtikeya (Skanda)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights steadfastness in dharma: Bhīṣma, though grievously wounded, is portrayed with heroic composure and dignity, suggesting that inner resolve and fidelity to one’s vows can persist even amid extreme suffering and the ethical tragedy of war.

Sañjaya narrates that the observer (in context, the arriving party) sees Bhīṣma lying on the battlefield upon a bed of arrows. His appearance is compared to Lord Kārtikeya at birth resting on a reed-bed, elevating Bhīṣma’s martial stature and the solemnity of the moment.