Shloka 9
दृष्टवा नातिप्रभं सोम॑ तथा सूर्य च पार्थिव । प्रकाशमकरोददत्रिस्तपसा स्वेन संयुगे
dṛṣṭvā nātiprabhaṃ somaṃ tathā sūryaṃ ca pārthiva | prakāśam akarod atris tapasā svena saṃyuge ||
भीष्म उवाच— “पार्थिव, सोमस्य सूर्यस्य च नातिप्रभां दृष्ट्वा, अत्रिः स्वेन तपसा संयुगे प्रकाशमकरोत्; तमो निवार्य जगत् प्रकाशयामास।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual idea that tapas (disciplined austerity) is a real power: when ordinary supports (even cosmic lights like Sun and Moon) seem insufficient, the inner strength of a righteous sage can restore clarity and order, dispelling darkness both literally and symbolically.
Bhīṣma narrates that, on a battlefield where the Sun and Moon appear dim, the sage Atri uses his ascetic power to generate illumination, removing darkness and making the surroundings bright.