Shloka 46
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
मध्यंदिने यथा5<दित्यं तपन्तमिव तेजसा । न शेकुः पाण्डवेयस्य योधा भीष्म निरीक्षितुम्,उस समय भीष्म रणभूमिमें धूमरहित अग्निके समान खड़े थे। जैसे दुपहरीमें अपने तेजसे तपते हुए सूर्यकी ओर देखना कठिन है, उसी प्रकार पाण्डव-सेनाके सैनिक भीष्मकी ओर दृष्टिपात करनेमें भी असमर्थ हो गये
sañjaya uvāca | madhyaṃdine yathādityaṃ tapantam iva tejasā | na śekuḥ pāṇḍaveyasya yodhā bhīṣmam nirīkṣitum ||
Sañjaya nói: Như khó có thể nhìn thẳng mặt trời rực cháy lúc chính ngọ, các chiến sĩ của Pāṇḍava cũng không sao nhìn nổi Bhīṣma. Ông đứng trên chiến địa như ngọn lửa không khói, tỏa ra hào quang áp đảo khiến lòng can đảm và sự điềm tĩnh của họ chao đảo trước uy thế ấy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how tejas—radiant power born of prowess, discipline, and reputation—can overwhelm opponents even before weapons decide the outcome. Ethically, it points to the inner dimension of war: morale, fear, and the aura of a dharma-bound elder-warrior like Bhīṣma shape the battlefield as much as physical force.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma standing in the fight with smokeless-fire-like brilliance. The Pāṇḍava soldiers, intimidated by his blazing presence, are unable to fix their gaze on him—comparing their inability to looking at the scorching midday sun.