Shloka 35
प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपो वीरो भगदत्त: प्रतापवान् | गजाड्कुशधरश्रेष्ठोी रथे चैव विशारद:,प्राग्ज्योतिषपुरके राजा भगदत्त बड़े वीर और प्रतापी हैं। हाथमें अंकुश लेकर हाथियोंको काबूमें रखनेवाले वीरोंमें इनका सबसे ऊँचा स्थान है। ये रथयुद्धमें भी कुशल हैं
prāgjyotiṣādhipo vīro bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān | gajāṅkuśadharaśreṣṭho rathe caiva viśāradaḥ ||
પ્રાગ્જ્યોતિષનો અધિપતિ, વીર અને પ્રતિાપી ભગદત્ત. ગજાંકુશ ધારણ કરીને યુદ્ધહાથીઓને વશમાં રાખનારાઓમાં તે અગ્રગણ્ય છે; અને રથયુદ્ધમાં પણ નિપુણ છે.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: excellence in one’s appointed martial role and mastery of specialized skills (elephant warfare and chariot combat). It also reflects the epic’s ethical realism—recognizing merit and capability even in opponents or politically aligned rivals.
In Udyoga Parva, Bhishma is describing notable kings and warriors in the lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war, assessing their strengths. Here he singles out Bhagadatta of Pragjyotiṣa as pre-eminent in controlling war-elephants and also expert in chariot fighting.