Shloka 143
तालवृन्तान्युपादाय पर्यवीजन्त सर्वश: । माद्रीकुमार नकुल और सहदेवने पगड़ी हाथमें लेकर भीष्मजीके मस्तकपर रखी। कौरवराजके रनिवासकी स्ट्रियाँ ताड़के पंखे हाथमें लेकर कुरुकुलधुरन्धर भीष्मजीके शवको सब ओरसे हवा करने लगीं
tālavṛntāny upādāya paryavījanta sarvaśaḥ | mādrīkumarau nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca pāgṛīṃ hastam ādāya bhīṣmasya mastake nyadhāpayatām | kauravarājasya ranivāsastriyaḥ tālapattravījān hastagṛhītāḥ kurukuladhurandharaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śavaṃ sarvato vāyum akarot ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— तालवृन्तान्युपादाय पर्यवीजन्त सर्वशः । माद्रीपुत्रौ नकुलः सहदेवश्च शिरस्त्राणं कराभ्यां गृहीत्वा भीष्मस्य शिरसि न्यधापयताम् । अन्तःपुरस्त्रियोऽपि तालवृन्तहस्ताः कुरुकुलधुरन्धरस्य भीष्मस्य देहं सर्वतः शनैः समवीजयन् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after conflict, dharma requires honoring elders and the fallen with dignity. The respectful acts—covering the head and fanning the body—express gratitude and reverence toward Bhīṣma as a guardian of the Kuru line, showing that ethical conduct continues beyond victory or defeat.
After Bhīṣma’s passing, attendants and royal women fan his body with palm-leaf fans. Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Mādrī, place a turban on Bhīṣma’s head as an honorific gesture, treating him as a revered elder and dynastic pillar.