Shloka 6
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
एतेषां बहुसाहस्रा रथा नागा हयास्तथा | योत्स्यन्ते ते तनूंस्त्यक्त्वा कुन्तीपुत्रप्रियेप्सपा,इनके कई हजार रथ, हाथी और घोड़े हैं, जो कुन्तीपुत्र युधिष्ठिरका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे अपने शरीरको निछावर करके युद्ध करेंगे
eteṣāṃ bahusāhasrā rathā nāgā hayās tathā | yotsyante te tanūṃs tyaktvā kuntīputrapriyepsayā ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Auf ihrer Seite stehen viele Tausende von Wagen, Elefanten und Pferden. Jene Krieger werden kämpfen, bereit, selbst ihren Leib hinzugeben, getrieben von dem Wunsch, dem Sohn Kuntīs (Yudhiṣṭhira) zu gefallen.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast loyalty and readiness for self-sacrifice in the service of a righteous king: warriors are portrayed as willing to risk life itself to accomplish what is dear to Yudhiṣṭhira, framing martial commitment as an ethical vow rather than mere aggression.
Bhīṣma is describing the strength and resolve of the opposing forces: they possess vast military resources (chariots, elephants, horses), and their fighters are determined to battle even unto death to fulfill Yudhiṣṭhira’s interests.