Shloka 15

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

सर्वमूर्धाभिषिक्तानामाचार्य: स्थविरो गुरु: । गच्छेदन्तं सूंजयानां प्रियस्त्वस्यथ धनंजय:,सम्पूर्ण मूर्धाभिषिक्त राजाओंके ये आचार्य एवं वृद्ध गुरु हैं। ये सृंजयवंशी क्षत्रियोंका विनाश कर डालेंगे; परंतु अर्जुन इन्हें बहुत प्रिय हैं

Transliteration

sarvamūrdhābhiṣiktānām ācāryaḥ sthaviro guruḥ | gacched antaṃ sṛñjayānāṃ priyas tv asyatha dhanañjayaḥ ||

Translation

பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—முடிசூட்டப்பட்ட அரசர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் இவர் ஆசாரியரும் முதிய குருவும் ஆவார். ஸ்ரிஞ்ஜயர்களை முடிவுக்கு கொண்டு வருவார்; ஆயினும் தனஞ்சயன் (அர்ஜுனன்) அவருக்கு அன்பானவன்.

Word by Word

• सर्व: of all
• सर्व: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मूर्धाभिषिक्तानाम्: of the consecrated kings (crowned ones)
• मूर्धाभिषिक्तानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धाभिषिक्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आचार्यः: teacher, preceptor
• आचार्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थविरः: elder, aged
• स्थविरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुः: guru, venerable one
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गच्छेत्: would go / should go
• गच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्तम्: end, destruction
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सृञ्जयानाम्: of the Sṛñjayas
• सृञ्जयानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृञ्जय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then / moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• धनञ्जयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनञ्जयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनञ्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Sṛñjayas
• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya)
• consecrated kings (mūrdhābhiṣiktāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even a universally revered guru, bound by allegiance and the logic of conflict, may act against those he is connected to, while still retaining personal affection—here, love for Arjuna—showing how dharma can become tragically divided between duty, loyalty, and human bonds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a senior martial preceptor—venerated by all crowned kings—who, in the coming war, will be capable of destroying the Sṛñjaya side (the Pāṇḍava-aligned Kṣatriyas). Yet Bhīṣma notes that Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) remains especially dear to that guru, underscoring the personal relationships entangled in the impending battle.