Shloka 28

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

भीष्म-दुर्योधन-संवाद भूरिश्रवा: कृतास्त्रश्न तव चापि हित: सुहृत्‌,सोमदत्तके पुत्र महाधनुर्धर भूरिश्रवा भी अस्त्र-विद्याके पण्डित और तुम्हारे हितैषी सुहृद्‌ हैं। ये रथियोंके यूथपतियोंके भी यूथपति हैं, अतः तुम्हारे शत्रुओंकी सेनाका महान्‌ संहार करेंगे

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | bhūriśravāḥ kṛtāstraś ca tava cāpi hitaḥ suhṛt | somadattasya putro mahādhanurdharo bhūriśravāḥ astravidyāyāṃ paṇḍitaḥ | sa rathiyūthapānāṃ yūthapatiḥ, tasmāt tava śatrusainyasyā mahān saṃhāraṃ kariṣyati |

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「ブーリシュラヴァス—ソーマダッタの子—は、修練を尽くした戦士にして、強弓の名手、しかも汝の益を願う友である。武器の学に通じ、車戦部隊の隊長たちの中にあってもなお隊長たる者ゆえ、汝の敵軍に大いなる破滅をもたらすであろう。」

Word by Word

भीष्मBhishma

दुर्योधनDuryodhana

संवादःdialogue/conversation

भूरिश्रवाःBhurishravas

कृतास्त्रःtrained in weapons (one who has mastered weapons)

तवof you/your

चand

अपिalso/even

हितःwell-wishing/beneficial

सुहृत्friend

सोमदत्तकO Somadattaka

पुत्रO son

महाधनुर्धरःgreat bow-bearer, mighty archer

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Duryodhana

Bhurishravas

Somadatta

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma emphasizes the strategic and ethical importance of reliable allies: a well-wishing friend who is also highly competent in arms becomes a pillar of strength in crisis. The verse highlights leadership through capable commanders and the role of loyalty and expertise in determining outcomes in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhishma–Duryodhana conversation, Bhishma points to Bhurishravas as a key Kaurava supporter—trained in weapons, a powerful archer, and a commander among commanders—predicting that he will inflict heavy losses on the enemy forces in the impending battle.