Shloka 10

भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्

Amba-ākhyāna prologue

Devanagari script

क्षत्रधर्मरतो महां मत: परपुरंजय: । क्षत्रदेवस्तु राजेन्द्र पाण्डवेषु रथोत्तम:,राजेन्द्र! शत्रुओंकी नगरीपर विजय पानेवाला क्षत्रियधर्मपरायण क्षत्रदेव मेरे मतमें पाण्डवसेनाका एक श्रेष्ठ रथी है

Transliteration

kṣatradharmarato mahān mataḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | kṣatradevas tu rājendra pāṇḍaveṣu rathottamaḥ ||

Translation

রাজেন্দ্র! শত্রুপুর-বিজয়ী, ক্ষত্রধর্মে নিবিষ্ট ক্ষত্রদেব আমার মতে পাণ্ডবদের পক্ষে এক শ্রেষ্ঠ রথী।

Word by Word

• क्षत्रधर्मरतः: devoted to the kshatriya-duty
• क्षत्रधर्मरतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्रधर्म-रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतः: considered / regarded
• मतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परपुरंजयः: conqueror of enemy-cities
• परपुरंजयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-पुर-जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षत्रदेवः: Kshatradeva (proper name)
• क्षत्रदेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पाण्डवेषु: among the Pandavas / in the Pandavas' (side)
• पाण्डवेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• रथोत्तमः: the best chariot-warrior
• रथोत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ-उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kṣatradeva
• Pāṇḍavas
• enemy cities/fortresses (parapura)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds kṣatriya-dharma: excellence in war is framed as disciplined adherence to a warrior’s duty, not mere aggression—valor is praised when aligned with rightful conduct and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is assessing and praising a warrior named Kṣatradeva, identifying him as a foremost chariot-fighter within the Pāṇḍava side and noting his reputation for overcoming enemy strongholds.