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Shloka 8

Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies

रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिश: । अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत्‌,बहुसंख्यक रथोंकी सेनाएँ नगरोंके समान दृष्टिगोचर हो रही थीं। उनके बीच आपके ताऊ भीष्मजी, पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान प्रकाशित हो रहे थे

sañjaya uvāca | rathānīkāny adṛśyanta nagarāṇīva bhūriśaḥ | atīva śuśubhe tatra pitā te pūrṇacandravat |

Wika ni Sanjaya: Nagpakita sa paningin ang napakalalaking mga pulutong ng mga hanay ng karwaheng pandigma, na wari’y mga lungsod sa laki at siksik. Sa gitna nila, ang iyong ninunong si Bhishma ay labis na nagningning—maningning na gaya ng kabilugan ng buwan—nakatindig bilang pangunahing sagisag ng lakas at paninindigan ng hukbong Kuru sa bisperas ng digmaan.

रथानीकानिchariot-divisions (chariot-armies)
रथानीकानि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथानीक
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
अदृश्यन्तwere seen / appeared
अदृश्यन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada
नगराणिcities
नगराणि:
TypeNoun
Rootनगर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
भूरिशःin great numbers, abundantly
भूरिशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभूरिशस्
अतीवexceedingly, very much
अतीव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअतीव
शुशुभेshone, was splendid
शुशुभे:
TypeVerb
Rootशुभ्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
पिताfather (here: elder/guardian figure)
पिता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तेof you / your
ते:
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
Form—, Genitive, Singular
पूर्णचन्द्रवत्like the full moon
पूर्णचन्द्रवत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्णचन्द्रवत्

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
D
Dhritarashtra
B
Bhishma
C
Chariot-formations (rathānīkāni)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how outward power and splendor—vast military arrays and a celebrated commander—can inspire confidence and awe, yet it also implicitly frames the ethical tension of war: even the most radiant leadership is set within a conflict whose consequences test dharma and responsibility.

Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra what is visible on the battlefield: innumerable chariot-divisions appear like cities, and Bhishma, Dhritarashtra’s revered elder, stands out among them, shining prominently as the Kuru side’s central figure.