Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

हेमतालध्वजं भीष्म॑ राजते स्यन्दने स्थितम्‌ | श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशुं ददृशु: कुरुपाण्डवा:

Transliteration

hemataladhvajaṃ bhīṣmaṃ rājate syandane sthitam | śvetābhra iva tīkṣṇāṃśuṃ dadṛśuḥ kuru-pāṇḍavāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Bhīṣma đứng trên chiến xa của mình, lá cờ chiến sáng rực như vàng, khiến thân ông rạng ngời. Quân Kuru và Pāṇḍava nhìn ông như nhìn mặt trời tia sắc nhọn hiện ra giữa mây trắng—một cảnh tượng gây kinh sợ, báo hiệu sức nặng đạo lý và uy lực chiến trận của bậc trưởng lão khi bước lên tuyến đầu.

Word by Word

• हेमतालध्वजम्: the chariot-banner (standard) of golden palm-tree
• हेमतालध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमतालध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• राजते: shines, is resplendent
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• स्यन्दने: in the chariot
• स्यन्दने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितम्: standing, stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• श्वेताभ्रः: a white cloud
• श्वेताभ्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेताभ्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• तीक्ष्णांशुम्: the sharp-rayed (sun)
• तीक्ष्णांशुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीक्ष्णांशु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददृशुः: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• कुरुपाण्डवाः: the Kurus and the Pandavas
• कुरुपाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुपाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Kurus
• Pāṇḍavas
• chariot (syandana)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• golden palm-tree emblem (hematāla)
• sun (tīkṣṇāṃśu)
• white clouds (śvetābhra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how moral stature and martial responsibility can make a leader’s presence overwhelming to all sides. Bhīṣma’s radiance symbolizes authority earned through vows and duty, reminding readers that in dharmic conflict, personal greatness can inspire awe even amid tragic necessity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma stands on his chariot with a brilliant banner, and both armies—Kuru and Pāṇḍava—watch him. The simile of the sun amid white clouds emphasizes Bhīṣma’s striking visibility and the moment’s heightened tension as battle leadership becomes manifest.