Shloka 10

अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

सम्बन्धकेन राजेन्द्र तौ तु वीर्यबलान्वयात्‌ । आर्यवृत्तौ महेष्वासौ स्नेहपाशसितावुभौ,राजेन्द्र! वे दोनों नरेश वीर्य और बलसे संयुक्त श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंके समान सदाचारी और महान्‌ धनुर्धर हैं। पाण्डवोंके साथ सम्बन्ध होनेके कारण वे दोनों उनके स्नेह-बन्धनमें बँधे हुए हैं

Transliteration

sambandhakena rājendra tau tu vīryabalānvayāt | āryavṛttau maheṣvāsau snehapāśasitāv ubhau ||

Translation

O king, because of their relationship (by kinship/alliance), those two are endowed with valor and strength. They are great bowmen, upright in noble conduct; and, due to their connection with the Pāṇḍavas, both are bound fast in the cords of affection.

Word by Word

सम्बन्धकेनby/through relationship

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

तौthose two

तुindeed/but

वीर्यबलान्वयात्due to (their) lineage of valor and strength

आर्यवृत्तौin noble conduct / in the way of the noble

महेष्वासौthe two great bowmen

स्नेहपाशसितौbound by the noose of affection

उभौboth

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Rājendra (the king addressed, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra in context)

Pāṇḍavas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma highlights how kinship and affection can bind even powerful, virtuous warriors, shaping political choices and loyalties; ethical conduct (āryavṛtta) does not remove human attachment, but frames it within honorable behavior.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the lead-up to war, Bhīṣma explains to the king that two notable warriors are both mighty and noble, yet their relationship with the Pāṇḍavas keeps them emotionally and politically tied to the Pāṇḍava side.