Bhagavad Gita BG 1.8
Chapter 1, Verse 8 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥ ८ ॥
bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiñjayaḥ aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca
Meaning
Yourself (Drona), Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa — always victorious in battle; Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and also the son of Somadatta (Bhurishrava).
Understanding
Duryodhana names the seven pillars of the Kaurava forces: Drona (the teacher), Bhishma (the grandsire and supreme commander), Karna (the great archer), Kripa (another Brahmin warrior), Ashwatthama (Drona's son), Vikarna (one of the few Kauravas with a conscience, who objected to Draupadi's humiliation), and Bhurishrava (son of Somadatta).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| भीष्मः | bhīṣmaḥ | Bhishma (the grandsire) |
| कर्णः | karṇaḥ | Karna (the great archer) |
| कृपः | kṛpaḥ | Kripa (the Brahmin warrior) |
| समितिञ्जयः | samitiñjayaḥ | ever-victorious in battle |
| अश्वत्थामा | aśvatthāmā | Ashwatthama (son of Drona) |
| भवान् | bhavān | yourself / your honour (Drona) |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| विकर्णः | vikarṇaḥ | Vikarna (a just-minded son of Dhritarashtra) |
| सौमदत्तिः | saumadattiḥ | son of Somadatta (Bhurishrava) |
| तथा एव | tathaiva | likewise / also |