Shloka 21
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
संयन्तार: प्रहर्तार: कृतास्त्रा भारसाधना: । इष्वस्त्रे द्रोणशिष्याश्व॒ कृपस्य च शरद्वतः
saṁyantāraḥ prahartāraḥ kṛtāstrā bhārasādhanāḥ | iṣvastre droṇaśiṣyāś ca kṛpasya ca śaradvatāḥ ||
ನೀವು ರಥವನ್ನು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸುವುದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪ್ರಹಾರ ಮಾಡುವುದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ನಿಪುಣರು; ಅಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತರಬೇತಿ ಪಡೆದವರು, ಭಾರವನ್ನು ಹೊರುವಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮರ್ಥರು. ಇಷ್ವಸ್ತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ದ್ರೋಣನಿಗೂ ಶರದ್ವತ ಕೃಪನಿಗೂ ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಶಿಷ್ಯರು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes disciplined competence: warriors should unite technical mastery (weapons and chariot-control) with endurance and reliability. The verse frames martial excellence as a duty-bound preparedness grounded in proper training under respected teachers.
In Bhīṣma’s address, he is describing and affirming the fighting capability of the addressed warriors—praising their chariot-handling, striking power, weapon-training, and their pedigree as students of Droṇa and Kṛpa—thereby strengthening resolve and assessing readiness for the coming conflict.