Chapter1 Verse - 8

 

Verse - 8

भवान् भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च् समितिञ्जय: ।

अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration:

BhavAn bhIshmashca karNashca kripashca samitinjayaH .

ashvatthAmA vikarNashca saumadattistathaiva ca ..8..

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Word by word meaning:

भवान् – you; भीष्मश्च – and Bhishma; कर्णश्च – and Karna; कृपश्च् – and Kripacarya; समितिञ्जय: - who are victorious in battle; अश्वत्थामा – Ashwattama; विकर्णश्च – and Vikarna; सौमदत्ति: - Bhurishrava; त​थैव च – and thus also;

Meaning:

You, Bhishma pitamaha, Karna, Kripacarya who are all victorious in battles. And thus even are – Ashwattama, Vikarna and Bhurishrava.

Significance:

                          Duryodhana, who has already transgressed his limits, now realises it. While naming the warriors in his army, he places Dronacarya first and Bhishma pitamaha in the second place. He also names Kripacarya, brother-in-law of Dronacarya in the first few warrior list. Even though Dronacarya wont mind the words of Duryodhana, he tries his best to coverup for the damage done by him, by his words.

Dronacarya: Dronacarya,the son of sage Bharadwaja , is the disciple of Parasurama. He is well versed in vedas, shAstra-s and shastra-s. He is well-versed in war tactics too. He has deeper knowledge of many special weapons like- Agneya astra. He developed a good friendship with Drupada, but due to some misunderstanding they turned out to be foes. He got half of Drupada’s empire to the north of river Ganges. Drupada performed a yagna , out of which he got a son Dhrishtadyumna, who is born to kill Dronacarya. Dronacarya was the Guru of Kaurava-s, PAndava-s and Dhrishtadyumna too. Among His son Ashwattama was a good friend of Duryodhana. Dronacarya, being a dutiful person, took the side Duryodhana in Mahabharata war. He was killed by Dhrishtadyumna.

Bhishma: Bhishma, is the son of King Shantanu and Gnaga. He is the avatar of the vasu – dyo. He was named ‘Devavrata’. He was taken by Ganges with her, after completion of his education, he returned back to his father Shantanu. He took a vow of ‘ Celibacy ‘ throughout his life, he was known as ‘Bhisma – which means one who has taken a terrible vow’. His father granted him the boon of ‘icchA mrityu’ to Devavrata. He also promised his father that, he wont leave this world until the kingdom is in safehands. He stood by the kingdom all his life. During the marriage of his brothers, he won Amba, Ambalika and Ambika – the princesses of Kashya, in the swamvara for his brothers. Due to some confusions, Amba was unable to marry neither viticyvirya nor her love – king saubala. She held Bhisma responsible for her misfortune. She sacrificed her life in fire on vowing that she will be the reason for Bhismas death. She was reborn as Shikandi. Only with the help of Shikandi, Pandavas were able to attack Bhishma. He left this world only after knowing that hastinapura is in the hands of a righteous person Yudhishtira

Karna : Karna is the first son on Kunti. He was born for Surya Deva and Kunti. Kunti being a young girl,was curious to test the boon given by sage Durvasa. She uttered the mantra by praying to Surya deva. Karna was born as an amsa of Surya Deva. She wrapped the kid, kept in a box and made it float in a river. Karna was rescued and brought up by the couple Adhiratha ( charioteer in hastinapura) and Radha. He was popularly known as Radhaeya. He developed a great friendship with Duryodhana as a result of which, even after knowing that he is the eldest of the Pandava-s , he stood by the side of Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war.He was born with a kundela and a protecting shwild which knowingly he donated them to Indra. He did not fight in the kaurava army till Bhishma fought. He was the commander – in – chief for the next couple of days. He was killed by Arjuna in the Mahabharata war.  He is known for his Charity and Friendship till date.

Vikarna : He was known for his Dharma, he was the only Kaurava who questioned the humiliation of Draupadi and echoed the questions Draupadi had already asked the Kuru elders, demanding that his questions be answered. For this when he was confronted by Bhima in the Mahabarata war , Bhima told him to step aside as he knew vikarna was a man of dharma and didn’t want to kill him. But vikarna refused and replied that it was his duty then to question the disrobing of Draupadi and it is his duty now to fight alongside his brother. Thus did the righteous vikarna leave the mortal world doing his duty to his brother.

Ashwattama :  Son of Dronacarya , is a well – versed in vedas , shAstras and sashtras. He is a good friend of Duryodhana. He was in the side of the Kauravas during the Mahabarata war . he killed the upapandavas and many other soldiers at the dead of the night to revenge Duryodhana’s death. He also drove the brahmatra to Uttara’s womb to destroy the race of Pandava . the child was saved by Krishna and ashwattama was crused by Krishna to be a cAndAlA  for his evil deed.

Saumadatti : also known as Bhurisravas , Son of king Somadatta , grandson of Balhika , who was the elder brother of Shantanu.  He took the side of kauravas in the mahabarata war . Bhurisravas , attempted to kill SAtyaki who was unarmed, was paid back in his own death in the same manner . He is a perfect example of the saying : यथा कर्म तथा फलम् ।