Shloka 6
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
संजय उवाच सैनापत्यमनुप्राप्य भीष्म: शान्तनवो नूप । दुर्योधनमुवाचेदं वचन हर्षयन्निव,संजय बोले--नरेश्वर! सेनापतिका पद प्राप्त करके शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने दुर्योधनका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए-से उससे यह बात कही--
sañjaya uvāca | saināpatyam anuprāpya bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nṛpa | duryodhanam uvācedaṃ vacanaṃ harṣayann iva ||
قال سَنْجَيَة: «أيها الملك، لما نال بِهِيشْمَة ابنُ شانتانو منصبَ القائد العام، قال لدوريودهانا هذه الكلمات، كأنه يريد أن يزيده ثقةً وفرحًا.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how authority and speech shape moral outcomes: Bhishma, upon assuming supreme military command, chooses words that encourage Duryodhana. It implicitly raises an ethical question central to the Mahabharata—how elders and leaders use influence, whether to restrain adharma or to embolden it.
Sanjaya reports to the king that Bhishma has accepted the role of commander-in-chief of the Kaurava forces. After taking this position, Bhishma addresses Duryodhana with words intended to hearten him, introducing the counsel or statements that follow in the next verses.