Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

गाण्डीवं च धर्नुर्दिव्यं ते चाश्वा वातरंहस: । अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी

Transliteration

gāṇḍīvaṃ ca dhanuḥ divyaṃ te cāśvā vātarāṃhasaḥ | abhedyaṃ kavacaṃ divyam akṣayyau ca maheṣudhī ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“你拥有神弓甘狄婆；你的骏马疾如风。你又有不可穿透的神甲，并有两具大箭囊，箭矢取之不尽。”此处称颂阿周那的装备，史诗表明：非凡的力量与护佑为正义之事而汇聚；同时也提醒听者，天赐之重，更增依正法而行、克制自守的责任。

Word by Word

• गाण्डीवम्: Gāṇḍīva (the bow)
• गाण्डीवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दिव्यम्: divine
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ते: those / they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्वाः: horses
• अश्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वातरंहसः: wind-speed (swift as the wind)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातरंहस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभेद्यम्: impenetrable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दिव्यम्: divine
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अक्षय्यौ: inexhaustible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महेषुधी: two great quivers
• महेषुधी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेषुधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• divine horses
• divine armor (kavaca)
• two great quivers (maheṣudhī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that extraordinary strength—divine weapons, protection, and inexhaustible resources—should serve dharma. Such advantages do not merely empower; they heighten moral accountability in the coming conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing (and effectively commending) the formidable, divinely endowed war-gear associated with Arjuna: the Gāṇḍīva bow, wind-swift horses, impenetrable armor, and two inexhaustible quivers—setting the tone for the scale and seriousness of the impending war.