Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 17
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
आनृशंस्येन रूपेण बलेन च समन्वित: । अस्त्रै: समुदित: सर्वर्दिव्यैरद््भुतदर्शनै:
ānṛśaṁsyena rūpeṇa balena ca samanvitaḥ | astraiḥ samuditaḥ sarvair divyair adbhuta-darśanaiḥ | śārṅga-dhanuḥ sudarśana-cakraṁ ca nandaka-nāmakaḥ khaḍgaḥ—tasya āyudhāni | tasya dhvaje sarpa-śatrūṇāṁ garuḍasya cihnaṁ suśobhate | sa uttama-śīla-śama-dama-parākrama-vīrya-sundara-śarīra-uttama-darśana-suḍaula-ākṛti-dhairya-ārjava-mārdava-rūpa-bala-ādi-sadguṇaiḥ sampannaḥ | sarva-prakāraiḥ divyaiḥ adbhutaiś ca astra-śastraiḥ tasya sadā sannidhānam asti |
Wika ni Īśvara: “Taglay niya sa likas na pagkatao ang habag, at may lakas; at siya’y nasasangkapan ng lahat ng sandatang banal na kahanga-hanga ang anyo. Ang kanyang mga sandata ay ang busog na Śārṅga, ang diskong Sudarśana, at ang tabak na tinatawag na Nandaka. Sa kanyang watawat ay nagniningning ang sagisag ni Garuḍa, kaaway ng mga ahas. Siya’y sagana sa marangal na asal—pagpipigil at pagpapaubaya—kasama ng tapang at sigla; may magandang katawan, mapalad na anyo, wastong hubog, katatagan, pagiging tuwid, kahinahunan, kagandahan, at lakas. Lahat ng uri ng banal at kababalaghang sandata ay laging nasa kanyang kapangyarihan.”
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True sovereignty and divine power are portrayed as inseparable from compassion (ānṛśaṁsya) and disciplined virtue (śama, dama). Strength and weaponry are legitimate when grounded in ethical character—steadfastness, honesty, gentleness—and used for protection rather than cruelty.
Īśvara describes a supreme divine figure (implicitly Viṣṇu) by listing his iconic weapons (Śārṅga, Sudarśana, Nandaka), his banner marked with Garuḍa, and a catalogue of moral and heroic qualities, emphasizing both martial capability and exemplary conduct.