Shloka 26

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

शिखण्ड्यर्जुनबाणैश्च भीष्मः शरशतैश्चितः / उत्तरायणमावीक्ष्य ध्यात्वा देवं गदाधरम्

Transliteration

śikhaṇḍyarjunabāṇaiśca bhīṣmaḥ śaraśataiścitaḥ / uttarāyaṇamāvīkṣya dhyātvā devaṃ gadādharam

Translation

శిఖండీ, అర్జునుల బాణాలతో ఛేదింపబడి భీష్ముడు శరశతాలతో కప్పబడాడు. ఉత్తరాయణం రానున్నదని ఎదురుచూస్తూ, గదాధర దేవుడు (శ్రీ విష్ణువు)ను ధ్యానించి ఆయనలోనే లీనమయ్యాడు.

Word by Word

• śikhaṇḍi-arjuna-bāṇaiḥ: by the arrows of Śikhaṇḍī and Arjuna
• śikhaṇḍi-arjuna-bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhaṇḍin (प्रातिपदिक) + arjuna (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शिखण्ड्यर्जुनयोः बाणैः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• bhīṣmaḥ: Bhīṣma
• bhīṣmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• śaraśataiḥ: with hundreds of arrows
• śaraśataiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraśata (प्रातिपदिक; śara+śata)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; द्विगुसमासः (शर + शत)

• citaḥ: heaped/covered
• citaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cita (कृदन्त; √ci (चि) ‘to pile/heap’, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (bhīṣmaḥ)

• uttarāyaṇam: the northern solstice (Uttarāyaṇa)
• uttarāyaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttarāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (उत्तरं अयनम्)

• āvīkṣya: having looked at, observing
• āvīkṣya: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√īkṣ (ईक्ष्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; उपसर्गः आ-

• dhyātvā: having meditated on
• dhyātvā: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः

• devam: the god (Lord)
• devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• gadādharam: the mace-bearer (Viṣṇu)
• gadādharam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadādhara (प्रातिपदिक; gadā+dhara)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (गदां धरति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana’s dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even amid pain, one can fix the mind on Bhagavān; choosing the auspicious time (Uttarāyaṇa) symbolizes conscious departure and mastery over prāṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa at the time of death (antakāla-smṛti) and ekāgratā leading toward liberation; īśvara-dhyāna transcending bodily suffering.

Application: Practice steady remembrance (nāma/dhyāna) daily so that in crisis the mind naturally turns to the Divine; cultivate patience and timing in major life transitions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield-turned-ascetic-resting-place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (1.145) Bhīṣma’s fall, dhyāna on Gadādhara, and subsequent liberation description

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Shikhandin
• Arjuna
• Vishnu (Gadadhara)

FAQs

What is the importance of Uttarayana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Uttarāyaṇa as an auspicious cosmic period associated with a favorable transition at death; Bhīṣma deliberately waits for it while fixing his mind on Viṣṇu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting Bhīṣma’s deliberate timing and Viṣṇu-meditation, the verse implies that conscious remembrance of the Lord at life’s end supports a higher spiritual passage and liberation-oriented destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion and remembrance of Viṣṇu throughout life so that, at critical moments, the mind naturally rests on the divine rather than fear or attachment.