Shloka 51
तेजोवीर्यबलैर्भूयान् शिखण्डी द्रुपदात्मज: । यः शूरं कृतिनं युद्धे सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्
tejo-vīrya-balair bhūyān śikhaṇḍī drupadātmajaḥ | yaḥ śūraṁ kṛtinaṁ yuddhe sarva-śāstra-viśāradam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Śikhaṇḍī, putra Drupada, lebih unggul dalam cahaya kemuliaan, keberanian, dan kekuatan—dialah yang di medan laga menghadapi seorang pahlawan gagah, berprestasi, dan mahir dalam segala ilmu senjata serta tata perang.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence is assessed in the epic world: tejas (presence), vīrya (courage), bala (strength), and śāstra-viśāradatā (mastery of weapon-lore). It implicitly frames kṣatriya ethics as a blend of inner resolve and disciplined training, not mere aggression.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking about Śikhaṇḍī, describing him as surpassing others in splendor, valor, and strength, and as one who faces formidable, highly trained warriors in battle. The remark situates Śikhaṇḍī’s battlefield significance within the Bhīṣma Parva war narrative.