Shloka 30

Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तु तुमुले युद्धे वर्तमाने महाभये । अतिसर्वाण्यनीकानि पिता तेडभिव्यरोचत

Transliteration

tasmiṁstu tumule yuddhe vartamāne mahābhaye | atisarvāṇy anīkāni pitā te 'bhyarocata ||

Translation

桑阇耶说：当那喧腾而极其可怖的大战正酣之时，你的祖父毗湿摩光辉赫然，凌驾诸军阵列之上，以自身威光照耀战场。

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तुमुले: tumultuous
• तुमुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• युद्धे: in the battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वर्तमाने: while occurring/going on
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Atmanepada (middle), Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महाभये: in great terror
• महाभये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अति: exceedingly/over
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अनीकानि: armies/battle-formations
• अनीकानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अभिव्यरोचत्: shone forth/brilliantly appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical psychology of war: in a terrifying, chaotic conflict, the presence of a revered and capable leader can ‘outshine’ the mass of forces—symbolizing how authority, discipline, and personal excellence steady an army and influence the performance of duty (kṣatriya-dharma) even amid fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that as the great battle rages, Bhīṣma stands out above all the formations, radiant and dominant on the field—signaling the Kaurava side’s reliance on Bhīṣma’s prowess and command.