द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
रणे वृष्णिप्रवीराणां द्वावेवातिरथौ स्मृती
raṇe vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ dvāv evātirathau smṛtī
ユディシュティラは言った。「戦場において、ヴリシュニ族の最も卓越した勇士たちの中で、真のアティラタ(至高の戦車武者)として記憶されるのは、ただ二人のみである。」
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s ethical emphasis on measured praise: true excellence in war is rare and must be acknowledged with restraint. It also reflects the epic’s concern with standards of merit (such as ‘atiratha’) rather than indiscriminate glorification.
Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking in the Drona Parva context, discussing battlefield prowess and ranking warriors. He states that among the Vṛṣṇi champions, only two are traditionally regarded as atirathas, setting up identification or evaluation of leading fighters.