Shloka 2
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
अभिमन्युर्महाबाहू रथयूथपयूथप: । सम: पार्थन समरे वासुदेवेन चारिहा,महाबाहु अभिमन्यु रथ-यूथपतियोंका भी यूथपति है। वह शत्रुनाशक वीर समरभूमिमें अर्जुन और श्रीकृष्णके समान पराक्रमी है। उसने अस्त्रविद्याकी विधिवत शिक्षा प्राप्त की है। वह युद्धकी विचित्र कलाएँ जानता है तथा दृढ़तापूर्वक व्रतका पालन करनेवाला और मनस्वी है। वह अपने पिताके क्लेशको याद करके अवश्य पराक्रम दिखायेगा
abhimanyur mahābāhu rathayūthapayūthapaḥ | samaḥ pārthena samare vāsudevena cārihā ||
Bhīṣma said: “Abhimanyu, the mighty-armed hero, is a leader among the leaders of chariot-squadrons. In battle he is equal to Pārtha (Arjuna) and to Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) in prowess, and he is a destroyer of foes.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights the dharmic ideal of the kṣatriya: disciplined training, steadfast vows, and leadership expressed as measured valor. Excellence in war is framed not as mere aggression but as duty carried by a well-trained, self-controlled warrior.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhīṣma assesses key fighters. Here he praises Abhimanyu as an exceptional chariot-commander, declaring him comparable in battlefield prowess to Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, thereby signaling the Pandava side’s formidable strength.