Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

श्वेतोष्णीषं श्वेतहयं श्वेतवर्माणमच्युतम्‌ । अपश्याम महाराज भीष्म॑ चन्द्रमिवोदितम्‌

Transliteration

śvetōṣṇīṣaṃ śvetahayaṃ śvetavarmāṇam acyutam | apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmaṃ candram ivoditam ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“大王啊，我看见毗湿摩——白色头巾、白色战马、白色甲胄——如新升之月般光辉照耀。身披无瑕的皎洁之光，那位坚守礼法的护持者在战场上熠熠生辉。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'śveta', 'definition': 'white

• pure (often connoting clarity, auspiciousness)'}, {'term': 'uṣṇīṣa', 'definition': 'turban

• head-dress'}, {'term': 'haya', 'definition': 'horse'}, {'term': 'varman', 'definition': 'armor

• protective mail'}, {'term': 'acyuta', 'definition': 'Acyuta

• here used as an honorific)'}, {'term': 'apaśyāma', 'definition': 'I saw (1st person singular, imperfect)'}, {'term': 'mahārāja', 'definition': 'O great king (address to Dhṛtarāṣṭra)'}, {'term': 'bhīṣma', 'definition': 'Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kurus'}, {'term': 'candram iva uditam', 'definition': 'like the moon as it rises

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as mahārāja)
• Bhīṣma
• white turban (uṣṇīṣa)
• white horses (haya)
• white armor (varman)
• moon (candra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal of steadfastness in maryādā (propriety and disciplined conduct) even amid war: Bhīṣma’s radiant, orderly appearance symbolizes inner resolve and adherence to duty, suggesting that ethical firmness can manifest as visible dignity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he sees on the battlefield: Bhīṣma, equipped with white turban, white horses, and white armor, appears brilliantly luminous—compared to the newly risen moon—signaling his prominence and commanding presence in the Kuru host.