Shloka 24

Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तेषां महास्त्राणि महारथाना- मसहाकर्मा विनिहत्य कार्ष्णि: | बभौ महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली सदोगत: सन्‌ भगवानिवाग्नि:

Transliteration

teṣāṁ mahāstrāṇi mahārathānām asahakarmā vinihatya kārṣṇiḥ | babhau mahāmantrahutārcimālī sadogataḥ san bhagavān ivāgniḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Kārṣṇi—na ang tapang ay di-matiis ng iba—ay winasak ang mga dakilang sandatang makalangit ng mga mandirigmang-karwahe. Matapos gawin iyon, siya’y nagningning na parang pinagpalang Diyos-Apoy, napapalamutian ng mga liyab na pinasiklab ng mga handog na inialay sa ritwal na may dakilang mga mantra.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• महास्त्राणि: great weapons/missiles
• महास्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महास्त्र (महत् + अस्त्र)
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• महारथानाम्: of the great chariot-warriors
• महारथानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• असह: unbearable
• असह: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कर्मा: in deeds; doer (one whose actions are ...)
• कर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विनिहत्य: having destroyed/slain
• विनिहत्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-हन्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage), non-finite

• कार्ष्णिः: Kārṣṇi (a Vrishni hero; here the subject)
• कार्ष्णिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्ष्णि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• बभौ: shone; appeared splendid
• बभौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• महामन्त्र: with great mantras
• महामन्त्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (महत् + मन्त्र)
• Form: masculine, instrumental (as first member in compound), plural (sense)

• हुत: offered (as oblation)
• हुत: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, nominative, singular

• अर्चि: flame; radiance
• अर्चि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस्
• Form: neuter, nominative (as first member in compound), singular

• माली: garlanded; having a garland (of flames)
• माली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली: one whose flame-garland is fed by oblations with great mantras
• महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामन्त्र-हुत-अर्चि-मालिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सदोगतः: having gone to the sacrificial hall
• सदोगतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदस् + गत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• भगवान्: the blessed lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• इव: like; as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अग्निः: Agni; fire
• अग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kārṣṇi (Sātyaki)
• mahārathas (Kaurava great chariot-warriors)
• mahāstras (celestial weapons)
• Agni (Fire-god)
• yajña (sacrificial rite implied by mantra and oblation imagery)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames martial power within a moral-ritual metaphor: when force is disciplined and directed toward a righteous end, it is likened to sacrificial fire—bright, controlled, and purpose-driven—rather than chaotic destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kārṣṇi (Sātyaki) overpowering Kaurava elite warriors by neutralizing their formidable astras; his brilliance and momentum on the battlefield are compared to Agni blazing after receiving oblations with great mantras.