Shloka 21

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

संयन्तार: प्रहर्तार: कृतास्त्रा भारसाधना: । इष्वस्त्रे द्रोणशिष्याश्व॒ कृपस्य च शरद्वतः,तुमलोग रथके संचालन और अस्त्रोंके प्रहारमें भी निपुण हो। अस्त्रविद्याके ज्ञाता तथा भार उठानेमें भी समर्थ हो। धनुष-बाणकी विद्यामें तो तुमलोग द्रोणाचार्य और कृपाचार्यके सुयोग्य शिष्य हो

Transliteration

saṁyantāraḥ prahartāraḥ kṛtāstrā bhārasādhanāḥ | iṣvastre droṇaśiṣyāś ca kṛpasya ca śaradvatāḥ ||

Translation

তোমালোক ৰথ নিয়ন্ত্ৰণ আৰু প্ৰহাৰত নিপুণ; অস্ত্ৰবিদ্যাত প্ৰশিক্ষিত আৰু ভাৰ বহনত সমৰ্থ। ধনুৰ্বিদ্যাত তোমালোক দ্ৰোণ আৰু শৰদ্বত কৃপ—উভয়ৰে যোগ্য শিষ্য।

Word by Word

संयन्तारःdrivers, controllers (of chariots)

प्रहर्तारःstrikers, assailants

कृतास्त्राःtrained in weapons (lit. having made/learned weapons)

भारसाधनाःcapable of bearing loads; strong

इष्वस्त्रेin the science/use of bow-and-arrow weapons

द्रोणशिष्याःstudents/disciples of Droṇa

चand

कृपस्यof Kṛpa

चand

शरद्वतःof Śaradvat (i.e., Kṛpa)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Droṇa (Droṇācārya)

Kṛpa (Śāradvata)

bows and arrows (iṣv-astra)

weapons (astra)

chariot driving (saṁyantṛ)

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?

Bhīṣma emphasizes disciplined competence: warriors should unite technical mastery (weapons and chariot-control) with endurance and reliability. The verse frames martial excellence as a duty-bound preparedness grounded in proper training under respected teachers.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s address, he is describing and affirming the fighting capability of the addressed warriors—praising their chariot-handling, striking power, weapon-training, and their pedigree as students of Droṇa and Kṛpa—thereby strengthening resolve and assessing readiness for the coming conflict.