tato bhīṣmo mahābāhuḥ śveto dhūmrāyudhaiḥ saha ।
“Then Bhishma, the great-armed, with Drona and Kripa went forth.”
Structure
tato bhīṣmaḥ mahābāhuḥ śveto dhūmrāyudhaiḥ saha
tato (then) bhīṣmaḥ (Bhishma) mahābāhuḥ (the great-armed one) śveto (white) saha (along with) dhūmrāyudhaiḥ (with Dhrstadyumna and the others who have smoke-bannered chariots)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tato | tato | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| bhīṣmaḥ | bhīṣmaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Bhīṣma |
| mahābāhuḥ | mahābāhuḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | great-armed |
| śveto | śveto | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | white, pale |
| dhūmrāyudhaiḥ | dhūmrāyudhaiḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "dhūmra-āyudha" | with smoke-colored weapons |
| saha | saha | indeclinable | — | with, along with |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In interpreting this verse, we must consider the implications of Bhishma's actions within the context of non-duality. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Brahma Sutra, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human actions and dualities. The mention of Bhishma, the great-armed, alongside Drona and Kripa, underscores the idea that even the most powerful and wise among us are ultimately bound by the limitations of the phenomenal world. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder of the distinction between the world of appearances (vyavahara) and the ultimate truth (paramartha), pointing towards the identity of Brahman and Atman as the sole reality beyond the dichotomies of human existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse illustrates the relationship between the jiva (the individual self) and Ishvara (the Supreme Lord). Bhishma, as a devotee, embodies the ideal of selfless action (nishkama karma) when he moves forth with Drona and Kripa. Ramanuja, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizes the importance of prapatti, or self-surrender, to the will of the Lord. Similarly, Bhishma's actions can be seen as a manifestation of this self-surrender, where the individual ego is subsumed by the larger purpose of serving the divine. This verse, therefore, reinforces the Vaishnava principle of bhakti, or devotion, as the means to achieve union with the divine, underscoring the interdependence of the jiva and Ishvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gita, highlights the universal applicability of the text's teachings to modern life. This verse, in particular, speaks to the importance of collective action and the power of unity in diversity. Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, each representing different aspects of human capability, move forward together, symbolizing the strength that arises from coordinated effort. Vivekananda's emphasis on the universal brotherhood of humanity and the need for selfless service finds resonance in this image. Furthermore, Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical reflections, often underscored the importance of integrating the spiritual and the secular, a theme that this verse illustrates through the depiction of these characters embarking on a joint endeavor, demonstrating that spiritual growth and worldly action are not mutually exclusive but complementary aspects of human flourishing.