Shloka 35
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
समेतं पार्थिव क्षत्रं काशिराजस्वयंवरे । निर्जित्यैकरथेनैव या: कन्यास्तरसा हृता:,काशिराजके यहाँ स्वयंवरमें समस्त भूमण्डलके क्षत्रियनरेश एकत्र हुए थे, परंतु मैंने केवल एक रथपर ही आरूढ़ होकर उन सबको जीतकर बलपूर्वक काशिराजकी कन्याओंका अपहरण किया था
sametaṁ pārthiva kṣatraṁ kāśirāja-svayaṁvare | nirjityaika-rathenaiva yāḥ kanyās tarasā hṛtāḥ ||
কাশীৰাজৰ স্বয়ংবৰত পৃথিৱীৰ সকলো ক্ষত্ৰিয় ৰজা একত্ৰ হৈছিল; কিন্তু মই একাই, এক ৰথত আৰূঢ় হৈ, সকলোকে পৰাস্ত কৰি, ত্বৰিত বেগে বলপূৰ্বক কাশীৰ ৰাজকন্যাসকলক হৰণ কৰিছিলোঁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension in dharma: kṣatriya prowess and socially recognized martial norms (such as forceful taking in certain contexts) can conflict with personal autonomy and later moral consequences. Bhīṣma frames his act as a feat of valor and legitimacy in a royal contest, inviting reflection on how power-based customs are ethically evaluated.
Bhīṣma recalls the Kāśī svayaṃvara where many kings had assembled. He says he defeated them single-handedly from one chariot and forcibly carried away the Kāśī princesses—an event that leads into the well-known chain of consequences involving the Kāśī princesses (notably Amba) and Bhīṣma’s later trials.