Shloka 28

Devanagari script

हेमतालेन महता भीष्मस्तिष्ठति पालयन्‌ | सर्वेषां धार्तराष्ट्राणां समरे शर्म वर्म च

Transliteration

hemataalena mahatā bhīṣmas tiṣṭhati pālayan | sarveṣāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ samare śarma varma ca ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: “Bhīṣma đứng trên chiến địa, che chở chúng ta dưới lá cờ lớn mang dấu cây thốt nốt bằng vàng. Với tất cả các con trai của Dhṛtarāṣṭra trong cuộc chiến này, người vừa là nơi nương tựa đem lại an ổn, vừa là áo giáp hộ thân.”

Word by Word

• हेमतालेन: with/by a golden palm-tree emblem (standard)
• हेमतालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमताल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great, large
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तिष्ठति: stands
• तिष्ठति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पालयन्: protecting, guarding
• पालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (पाल्)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्: of the sons of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शर्म: shelter, protection, comfort
• शर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वर्म: armor, protective covering
• वर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied via dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ)
• Dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra / Kauravas)
• golden palmyra-banner (hema-tāla-dhvaja / tāla-cihna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of protective leadership in war: a commander’s presence and steadfastness become ‘śarma’ (refuge) and ‘varma’ (armor) for those who depend on him, emphasizing responsibility and guardianship amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how Bhīṣma stands prominently on the battlefield under a great golden emblem-banner, guarding the Kaurava forces; his stature is portrayed as the Kauravas’ chief protection and reassurance in the coming fight.