Shloka 26

भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्

Amba-ākhyāna prologue

Devanagari script

पाण्ड्यराजो महावीर्य: पाण्डवानां धुरंधर: । दृढ्धन्वा महेष्वास: पाण्डवानां महारथ:

Transliteration

pāṇḍyarājo mahāvīryaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ dhuraṃdharaḥ | dṛḍhadhanvā maheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “The king of the Pāṇḍya land is of great valor, a foremost bearer of responsibility among the Pāṇḍavas. With a firm, mighty bow, a master archer, he stands as a great chariot-warrior of the Pāṇḍavas.”

Word by Word

• पाण्ड्यराजः: the king of Pāṇḍya
• पाण्ड्यराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्ड्यराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महावीर्यः: of great prowess
• महावीर्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धुरंधरः: a chief supporter/bearer of the burden
• धुरंधरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुरंधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृढ्धन्वा: having a firm/strong bow
• दृढ्धन्वा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढधन्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासः: having great arrows (i.e., a great archer)
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महारथः: a great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍya king
• Pāṇḍavas
• bow (dhanus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that true martial excellence is not only personal prowess (mahāvīrya, maheṣvāsa) but also dependable responsibility and loyalty (dhuraṃdhara) in supporting one’s cause—an aspect of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing and assessing notable warriors aligned with the Pāṇḍavas. Here he praises the Pāṇḍya king as a powerful, reliable great warrior—strong-bowed and eminent among their supporters.