Shloka 75

Devanagari script

तेषामवरजो भीष्म: कुरूणामभयंकर: । मतिमान्‌ वेदविद्‌ वाग्मी शत्रुपक्षक्षयंकर:,उनमें सबसे छोटे भीष्म थे, जिन्होंने कौरववंशको निर्भय बना दिया था। वे परम बुद्धिमान, वेदवेत्ता, वक्ता तथा शत्रुपक्षका संहार करनेवाले थे

Transliteration

teṣām avarajo bhīṣmaḥ kurūṇām abhayaṅkaraḥ | matimān vedavid vāgmī śatrupakṣakṣayaṅkaraḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Trong số họ, người trẻ nhất là Bhīṣma—đấng khiến dòng Kuru trở nên không biết sợ. Ngài có trí xét đoán sắc bén, thông tỏ Veda, lời nói hùng biện, và là kẻ phá tan hàng ngũ quân thù đáng khiếp.

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them

अवरजःthe youngest

भीष्मःBhishma

कुरूणाम्of the Kurus

अभयङ्करःmaker of fearlessness (one who made them fearless)

मतिमान्intelligent, wise

वेदविद्knower of the Veda

वाग्मीeloquent

शत्रु-पक्ष-क्षयङ्करःone who causes the destruction of the enemy side

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Kurus (Kuru dynasty)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical model of power: true guardianship combines learning (Vedic knowledge), discernment, and eloquence with the capacity to protect one’s community. Strength is praised not as mere aggression but as disciplined force that secures fearlessness for one’s people while remaining grounded in wisdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing Bhīṣma’s stature and qualities within the Kuru line—presenting him as the youngest among those being listed, yet exceptionally capable: a learned, articulate, and strategically powerful protector who can also devastate opposing forces in battle.