Shloka 2

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)

Devanagari script

यदि कौतूहलं तेडद्य पाण्डवानां बले नृप । रथसंख्यां शृणुष्व त्वं सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपै:

Transliteration

yadi kautūhalaṁ te ’dya pāṇḍavānāṁ bale nṛpa | rathasaṅkhyāṁ śṛṇuṣva tvaṁ sahaibhir vasudhādhipaiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O king, if today you are curious about the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, then listen: I shall tell you the count of their chariots, along with the allied rulers who stand with them.”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity
• कौतूहलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• बले: in (their) army/strength
• बले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• रथ-संख्याम्: the number of chariots
• रथ-संख्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथसंख्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शृणुष्व: hear (listen)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• एभिः: with these
• एभिः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वसुधा-अधिपैः: with the lords of the earth (kings)
• वसुधा-अधिपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• King (nṛpa)
• Pāṇḍavas
• Rathas (chariots)
• Vasudhādhipas (earth-lords/allied kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent kingship: decisions in conflict should be informed by clear knowledge of forces and alliances, not by impulse. Curiosity is redirected into disciplined listening and factual assessment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses the king and offers to describe the Pāṇḍavas’ military strength by enumerating their chariots and the allied rulers supporting them, setting up a strategic appraisal before war.