Shloka 8

Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171

Devanagari script

एते चान्ये च बहवो नानाजनपदेश्वरा: । समेता: पाण्डवस्यार्थे वासुदेवपुरोगमा:

Transliteration

ete cānye ca bahavo nānājanapadeśvarāḥ | sametāḥ pāṇḍavasyārthe vāsudevapurogamāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“这些人，以及来自诸多邦国的许多君主，都为般度之子一方的事业而聚集于此，由婆苏提婆（克里希那）领在前。”

Word by Word

एतेthese

चand

अन्येothers

चand

बहवःmany

नाना-जनपद-ईश्वराःlords/rulers of various kingdoms

समेताःassembled, gathered

पाण्डवस्यof the Pandava

अर्थेfor the sake/purpose

वासुदेव-पुरोगमाःhaving Vasudeva (Krishna) in front/at the head

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Pāṇḍava (Pāṇḍavas / Yudhiṣṭhira)

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

janapadas (various realms)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate causes in dharma are strengthened not merely by numbers but by principled leadership: the verse highlights collective support for the Pāṇḍavas’ cause, with Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) as the guiding forefront, implying moral and strategic authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing the political-military alignment before the great war: many kings from different regions have gathered to back the Pāṇḍavas, and their coalition is portrayed as being led and coordinated by Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa).