Shloka 17

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

श्लाघते5यं सदा वीर पार्थस्य गुणविस्तरै: । पुत्रादभ्यधिकं चैनं भारद्वाजोडनुपश्यति

Transliteration

ślāghate ’yaṃ sadā vīra pārthasya guṇa-vistaraiḥ | putrād abhyadhikaṃ cainaṃ bhāradvājo ’nupaśyati vīra ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ വീരാ! ഇദ്ദേഹം പാർഥന്റെ ഗുണങ്ങളെ വിശാലമായി വിവരിച്ച് എപ്പോഴും പ്രശംസിക്കുന്നു; ഈ ഭാരദ്വാജൻ (ദ്രോണൻ) അവനെ സ്വന്തം പുത്രനേക്കാൾ പോലും അധികം പ്രിയമായി കാണുന്നു.

Word by Word

• श्लाघते: praises, lauds
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्लाघ्
• Form: Lat (Present Indicative), Atmanepada, 3, Singular

• अयम्: this (person)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• वीर: O hero
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पार्थस्य: of Partha (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• गुण-विस्तरैः: with detailed accounts of virtues
• गुण-विस्तरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण-विस्तर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुत्रात्: than (his) son / from a son
• पुत्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अभ्यधिकम्: more, exceeding
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यधिक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भारद्वाजः: Bharadvaja’s son (Drona)
• भारद्वाजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनुपश्यति: regards, considers, looks upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√पश्
• Form: Lat (Present Indicative), Parasmaipada, 3, Singular

• वीर: O hero
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Bhāradvāja (Droṇa)
• Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) (implied by “son”)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of recognizing merit: a true teacher openly honors a disciple’s virtues, even when that esteem surpasses personal ties. It underscores how excellence (guṇa) can command loyalty and affection beyond blood relations.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhīṣma describes Droṇa’s attitude toward Arjuna: Droṇa repeatedly extols Arjuna’s qualities in detail and regards him as more beloved than his own son, indicating Arjuna’s exceptional standing even among his opponents’ elders.