Shloka 80

Devanagari script

निरीक्षितुं न शेकुस्ते भीष्ममप्रतिमं रणे । मध्यंगतमिवादित्यं प्रतपन्तं स्वतेजसा,घायल होकर भागे हुए सैनिक उत्साहशून्य और अचेत हो रहे थे। वे रणक्षेत्रमें अनुपम वीर भीष्मजीकी ओर आँख उठाकर देख भी न सके, ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे दोपहरमें अपने तेजसे तपते हुए सूर्यकी ओर कोई भी देख नहीं पाता

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | nirīkṣituṁ na śekus te bhīṣmam apratimaṁ raṇe | madhyaṁgatam ivādityaṁ pratapantaṁ svatejasā ||

Translation

ते भीष्ममप्रतिमं रणे निरीक्षितुं न शेकुः। मध्यंगतमिवादित्यं स्वतेजसा प्रतपन्तं न ददृशुः; आहताः पलायमानाश्च सैनिकाः उत्साहहीना अचेतनाश्च बभूवुः॥

Word by Word

निरीक्षितुम्to look at

नnot

शेकुःwere able

तेthey

भीष्मम्Bhishma

अप्रतिमम्incomparable

रणेin battle

मध्यम्midday / the middle

गतम्gone to / reached

इवas if / like

आदित्यम्the sun

प्रतपन्तम्blazing / scorching

स्वतेजसाby his own radiance

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīṣma

Āditya (the Sun)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how true martial excellence (tejas) can overwhelm opponents psychologically: when courage collapses, even seeing the formidable warrior becomes impossible. It also underscores the kṣatriya ideal that inner radiance—discipline, prowess, and resolve—can decide the moral and emotional tenor of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield effect of Bhīṣma’s dominance: the opposing soldiers, already wounded and retreating, lose heart and awareness, and cannot even look toward him—just as no one can stare at the blazing midday sun.