Shloka 8

भीष्म–जामदग्न्यसंवादः (Amba-prasaṅga and Kurukṣetra Dvandva Declaration) / Bhishma–Jamadagnya Dialogue

Devanagari script

कवचेन महाबाहो सोमार्ककृतलक्ष्मणा | धनुर्धरो बद्धतूणो बद्धगोधाड्गुलित्रवान्‌

Transliteration

kavacena mahābāho somārkakṛtalakṣmaṇā | dhanurdharo baddhatūṇo baddhagodhāṅgulitravān ||

Translation

कवचेन महाबाहो सोमार्ककृतलक्ष्मणा । धनुर्धरो बद्धतूणो बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान् ॥

Word by Word

• कवचेन: with (a) armor
• कवचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सोम: moon
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• अर्क: sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• कृत: made, fashioned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• लक्ष्मणा: with a mark/emblem
• लक्ष्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धनुः-धरः: bow-bearer, archer
• धनुः-धरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्ध-तूणः: having a fastened quiver
• बद्ध-तूणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्धतूण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (बद्ध) used adjectivally

• बद्ध-गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रवान्: wearing finger-guards of iguana-hide (fastened on)
• बद्ध-गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोधाङ्गुलित्रवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Moon (Soma)
• Sun (Arka)
• armor (kavaca)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• quiver (tūṇa/tūṇīra)
• finger-guards (aṅgulitra/aṅguli-trāṇa)
• iguana-hide (godhā-carma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined preparedness expected of a warrior: proper arms and protective gear are not mere ornament but signs of readiness to uphold kṣatriya-dharma in a grave conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a warrior’s battle-ready appearance—wearing armor marked with lunar and solar emblems, carrying a bow, with a quiver strapped on, and using finger-protectors—emphasizing the seriousness and formality of the impending martial encounter.