Shloka 30
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
सिन्धुराजो महाराज मतो मे द्विगुणो रथ: । योत्स्यते समरे राजन् विक्रान्तो रथसत्तम:
sindhurājo mahārāja mato me dviguṇo rathaḥ | yotsyate samare rājan vikrānto rathasattamaḥ ||
ಮಹಾರಾಜ! ಸಿಂಧುರಾಜ ಜಯದ್ರಥನನ್ನು ನಾನು ಇಬ್ಬರು ರಥಿಗಳ ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಾನವೆಂದು ಎಣಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ರಾಜನ್, ಈ ಪರಮ ವಿಕ್ರಾಂತನೂ ರಥಸತ್ತಮನೂ ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಂಡವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಯುದ್ಧ ಮಾಡುವನು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya-world ethic of assessing warriors by capability and role in battle: leadership involves sober evaluation of strength, not merely lineage or rhetoric, and such appraisal informs strategic and moral responsibility in war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparations, Bhīṣma is describing and ranking allied fighters for the Kaurava side. Here he praises Jayadratha, king of Sindhu, judging him equivalent to two chariot-warriors and stating that he will fight against the Pāṇḍavas.