Shloka 3
Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171
एष वीरो महेष्वास: कृती च निपुणश्च ह | चित्रयोधी च शक्तश्न मतो मे रथपुजड्गभवः
eṣa vīro maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtī ca nipuṇaś ca ha | citrayodhī ca śaktaś ca mato me rathapuṅgavaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “This man is a hero, a great archer—accomplished and truly skilled. He is also a fighter of varied and ingenious tactics, and powerful. In my judgment he stands among the foremost of chariot-warriors.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic ideal in the warrior context: competence, discipline, and proven skill are to be recognized and spoken of truthfully. Bhīṣma’s praise models responsible leadership—evaluating strength and readiness without exaggeration, as such clarity guides ethical decision-making in war.
In Udyoga Parva, as preparations for the great war intensify, Bhīṣma is describing and assessing notable fighters. Here he points out a particular warrior as a foremost chariot-combatant—mighty with the bow, expert in weapons and tactics, and strong—thereby informing the strategic appraisal of forces.