Shloka 16

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)

Devanagari script

लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान्‌

Transliteration

lohitākṣo guḍākeśo nārāyaṇasahāyavān

Translation

毗湿摩称阿周那为赤目之雄，志坚如铁；因那罗延（奎师那）相伴扶持而更增威力。此句昭示：真正的武力不止在个人技勇，更须立于正义的同盟与神圣的指引之上。

Word by Word

• लोहिताक्षः: the red-eyed one
• लोहिताक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहिताक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुडाकेशः: Gudakesha (Arjuna; 'conqueror of sleep')
• गुडाकेशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडाकेश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नारायणसहायवान्: having Nārāyaṇa as helper/ally
• नारायणसहायवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणसहायवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Arjuna (Guḍākeśa)
• Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Strength and success in dharmic action arise from disciplined personal virtue (Guḍākeśa) joined with righteous companionship and divine guidance (Nārāyaṇa as sahāya). The verse highlights that ethical alignment and proper support elevate human effort.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Bhīṣma speaks about key warriors. Here he characterizes Arjuna with epithets and emphasizes that Arjuna fights with Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) as his ally, implying formidable power and moral backing on the Pāṇḍava side.