Shloka 1

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

भीकम (2 अमान सप्तषष्ट्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: कौरवपक्षके रथी

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | śakunir mātulas te ’sau rathī eko narādhipa | prayujya pāṇḍavair vairam yotsyate nātra saṁśayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O König, dieser Śakuni — dein Onkel mütterlicherseits — ist ein Wagenkämpfer (rathī). Da er seine Feindschaft an die Pāṇḍavas geknüpft hat, wird er kämpfen; daran besteht kein Zweifel.“

Word by Word

• शकुनिः: Shakuni
• शकुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मातुलः: maternal uncle
• मातुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• असौ: that (person)
• असौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: असौ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथी: a chariot-warrior
• रथी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नराधिप: O king (lord of men)
• नराधिप: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रयुज्य: having yoked/engaged (having set to)
• प्रयुज्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• पाण्डवैः: with the Pandavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वैरम्: enmity
• वैरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• योत्स्यते: will fight
• योत्स्यते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Shakuni
• Pandavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how deliberate attachment to enmity (vaira) becomes a chosen moral stance: even family elders recognize that personal grudges can override restraint and propel one into adharma-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is listing and classifying warriors on the Kaurava side. Here he identifies Shakuni as a rathī and states confidently that Shakuni, bound by hostility toward the Pandavas, will take part in the coming war.