Shloka 3

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

द्रोणपुत्रो महेष्वास: सवनिवाति धन्विनः । समरे चित्रयोधी च दृढास्त्रश्न महारथ:,महाधनुर्धर द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा तो सभी धनुर्धरोंसे बढ़कर है। वह युद्धमें विचित्र ढंगसे शत्रुओंका सामना करनेवाला, सुदृढ़ अस्त्रोंसे सम्पन्न तथा महारथी है

Transliteration

droṇaputro maheṣvāsaḥ savanivāti dhanvinaḥ | samare citrayodhī ca dṛḍhāstraś ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

قال بهيشما: «إن ابن درونا، أشوَتّھاما، رامٍ عظيمٌ شديد البأس، يفوق سائر الرماة. وفي المعركة يقاتل بأساليب لافتة متنوّعة؛ وهو مُحكَمُ العُدّة بأسلحةٍ قوية، وهو حقًّا من عِظام فرسان العربة (مَهارَثِيّ).»

Word by Word

द्रोणपुत्रःDrona's son

महेष्वासःa great archer (having a great bow)

सर्वनिवातिone who wards off/overcomes all (opponents)

धन्विनःof the bowmen/archers

समरेin battle

चित्रयोधीa fighter of wondrous/varied (tactics)

चand

दृढास्त्रःhaving firm/strong weapons (or missiles)

महारथःa great chariot-warrior

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Droṇa

Aśvatthāmā

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?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical necessity, in a dharma-driven conflict, of accurately recognizing a warrior’s capability. Bhīṣma’s appraisal models responsible counsel: decisions in war should be informed by clear-eyed assessment rather than pride or negligence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma is describing key fighters. Here he praises Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā as superior among archers, formidable in combat, and a mahāratha—underscoring his importance to the coming battle.