Shloka 16
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
रथौ तौ कुरुशार्दटूल मतौ मे रथसत्तमौ । क्षत्रधर्मरतौ वीरौ महत् कर्म करिष्यत:,कुरुश्रेष्ठ! ये दोनों वीर रथी तो हैं ही, रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ भी हैं। ये क्षत्रियधर्ममें तत्पर होकर युद्धमें महान् पराक्रम करेंगे
rathau tau kuruśārdūla matau me rathasattamau | kṣatradharmaratau vīrau mahat karma kariṣyataḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “O tiger among the Kurus, in my judgment those two are true chariot-warriors—indeed, the finest among charioteers. Devoted to the kṣatriya code, those heroes will perform great deeds of valor in battle.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms the ideal of kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior’s excellence is measured by disciplined commitment to rightful martial duty and the capacity to act with great courage in battle.
Bhīṣma is evaluating and praising “those two” warriors as foremost chariot-fighters, predicting that, being devoted to the warrior code, they will accomplish major feats in the coming conflict.