Shloka 426

Devanagari script

भिद्यमान: शितैर्बाणै: सर्वावरणभेदिभि: । देवताओंकी वह बात सुनकर महातपस्वी शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म समस्त आवरणोंका भेदन करनेवाले तीखे बाणोंद्वारा विदीर्ण होनेपर भी अर्जुनको जीतनेका प्रयत्न न कर सके

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | bhidyamānaḥ śitair bāṇaiḥ sarvāvaraṇa-bhedibhiḥ | devatānāṃ tāṃ vācaṃ śrutvā mahātapāsvī śāntanunandano bhīṣmaḥ samastāvaraṇānāṃ bhedana-karaṇaiḥ tīkṣṇa-bāṇair vidīryamāṇo 'pi arjunaṃ jetuṃ prayatnaṃ na cakāra |

Translation

三阇耶说道：纵然被那能洞穿一切甲胄的锐箭撕裂，毗湿摩——大苦行者、善檀奴之子——在听闻诸天之言后，即便如此也未曾竭力去战胜阿周那。于战阵之中，他接受了更高的自制：对天命的敬畏与对正法界限的守持，胜过了不惜一切求胜的冲动。

Word by Word

• भिद्यमानः: being split/torn
• भिद्यमानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद् (√भिद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शानच् (present passive participle)

• शितैः: by sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: by arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सर्वावरणभेदिभिः: by (those) piercing all coverings/armours
• सर्वावरणभेदिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वावरणभेदिन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Bhishma
• Shantanu
• Arjuna
• Devas (gods)
• arrows
• armor/coverings

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, victory is not the highest good; dharma includes restraint and obedience to a higher moral/divine order. Bhishma’s refusal to press for Arjuna’s defeat, despite suffering, highlights ethical limits on violence and the primacy of righteous conduct over personal or factional triumph.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Kurukshetra battle, Bhishma is being grievously wounded by Arjuna’s sharp, armor-piercing arrows. After hearing a directive or message attributed to the gods, Bhishma refrains from making a decisive attempt to conquer Arjuna.