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Shloka 5

भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः

कथमेनं महात्मानं शक्ष्याम: प्रतिवीक्षितुम्‌ । लेलिहामान सैन्यं मे हविष्मन्तमिवानलम्‌,'जैसे अग्निदेव प्रज्वलित होकर हविष्यकी आहुति ग्रहण करते हैं, उसी प्रकार ये महामना भीष्म अपनी बाणरूपी जिह्ठासे मेरी सेनाको चाटते जा रहे हैं। हमलोग कैसे इनकी ओर देख सकेंगे--किस प्रकार इनका सामना कर सकेंगे?

sañjaya uvāca | katham enaṁ mahātmānaṁ śakṣyāmaḥ prativīkṣitum | lelihāmānaṁ sainyaṁ me haviṣmantam ivānalam ||

三阇耶说道:“我们怎能甚至直视这位大心之人?他如烈火吞噬祭供之酥酪一般,以箭为舌,舔尽我的军队。我们如何能与之相对,如何能抵挡得住?”

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
एनम्him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महात्मानम्the great-souled one
महात्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शक्ष्यामःshall be able
शक्ष्यामः:
TypeVerb
Rootशक्
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), First, Plural, Parasmaipada
प्रतिवीक्षितुम्to look at / to behold
प्रतिवीक्षितुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-वि-ईक्ष्
FormInfinitive (Tumun)
लेलिहानम्licking, lapping up
लेलिहानम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootलेलिहान
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, Present participle (Parasmaipada), from √लिह् with intensive/reduplicated stem
मानम्as/while (in the act of)
मानम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमान
सैन्यम्army
सैन्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
मेmy
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular, —
हविष्मन्तम्having oblations / fed with oblations
हविष्मन्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootहविष्मन्त्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अनलम्fire
अनलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīṣma
K
Kaurava army (Sañjaya’s side)
F
Fire (Anala/Agni)
H
Havis (oblations)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of a righteous and formidable warrior: when power, skill, and resolve converge, opposition can feel morally and psychologically impossible to confront. It also shows how fear arises when one perceives the enemy as an unstoppable, almost elemental force.

Sañjaya reports the battlefield situation to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Bhīṣma is cutting through the Kaurava host so fiercely that Sañjaya compares him to a blazing fire consuming sacrificial offerings, leaving the soldiers unable even to face him.