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

三阇耶说道：“毗湿摩立于战场，在巨大的金色多罗树旗幡之下护卫我们。对这场战争中一切持国之子而言，他既是带来安稳的庇护所，也是护身的铠甲。”

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.