Shloka 30
भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा
Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength
सेनापतिर्महाराज सत्यवांस्ते महारथ: । रणेष्वद्भधुतकर्मा च रथी पररथारुज:,महाराज! रथारूढ हो युद्धमें अद्भुत पराक्रम दिखाने और शत्रुपक्षके रथियोंकों मार भगानेवाले तुम्हारे सेनापति सत्यवान् भी महारथी हैं
senāpatir mahārāja satyavāṁs te mahārathaḥ | raṇeṣv adbhuta-karmā ca rathī para-rathārujaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O great king, your commander Satyavān is a mighty chariot-warrior. In battles he performs astonishing feats, and, mounted on his chariot, he shatters the enemy’s chariot-fighters—driving them back and breaking their strength.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya leadership: a commander should be truthful and exceptionally capable in battle, protecting his side by breaking the enemy’s fighting strength. It frames martial excellence as a duty-bound quality in a war context.
Bhishma is describing and praising a key warrior—Satyavān—identifying him as the army commander and an elite chariot-fighter whose battlefield prowess overwhelms opposing chariot-warriors.