Shloka 2
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
एतस्य रथसिंहस्य तवार्थे राजसत्तम । पराक्रम यथेन्द्रस्य द्रक्ष्यन्ति कुरवो युधि
etasya rathasiṁhasya tavārthe rājasattama | parākramaṁ yathendrasya drakṣyanti kuravo yudhi ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja terbaik, demi engkau para kesatria Kuru akan menyaksikan di medan perang kedahsyatan ‘singa di antara para pejuang kereta’ ini—raja Kamboja—yang menampakkan keberanian laksana Indra. Keperkasaannya akan nyata di gelanggang laga, dan para Kaurava akan melihatnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ideal of demonstrated valor in service of one’s chosen cause: a warrior’s excellence is measured by steadfast performance in battle, and leaders rely on capable allies whose prowess inspires confidence and deterrence.
In Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhishma reassures the addressed king (Duryodhana in this section) by praising an allied Kamboja ruler as a ‘lion among chariot-fighters,’ predicting that the Kuru forces will witness his Indra-like prowess on the battlefield.