Shloka 1

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माजल छा |: एकोनसप्तत्यधिकशततमो< ध्याय: पाण्डवपक्षके रथी आदिका एवं उनकी महिमाका वर्णन भीष्म उवाच एते रथास्तवाख्यातास्तथैवातिरथा नृप । ये चाप्यर्धरथा राजन्‌ पाण्डवानामत: शूणु,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--नरेश्वर! ये तुम्हारे पक्षके रथी, अतिरथी और अर्धरथी बताये गये हैं। राजन्‌! अब तुम पाण्डवपक्षके रथी आदिका वर्णन सुनो

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: ete rathās tavākhyātās tathaivātirathā nṛpa | ye cāpy ardharathā rājan pāṇḍavānām ataḥ śṛṇu ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ നൃപാ! നിന്റെ പക്ഷത്തിലെ രഥികൾ, അതിരഥികൾ, അർധരഥികൾ എന്നിവയെല്ലാം യഥാവിധി വിവരിച്ചു. ഇനി, ഹേ രാജൻ, പാണ്ഡവപക്ഷത്തിലെ രഥികൾ മുതലായവരുടെ വിവരണം കേൾക്കുക.

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'ete': 'these', 'rathāḥ': 'chariot-warriors (fighters counted by chariot-rank)', 'tava': 'your', 'ākhyātāḥ': 'have been declared/described', 'tathā eva': 'just so/likewise', 'atirathāḥ': 'great chariot-warriors (elite rank)', 'nṛpa': 'O king', 'ye ca api': 'and also those who', 'ardharathāḥ': 'half-chariot-warriors (lower rank than ratha/atiratha)', 'rājan': 'O king', 'pāṇḍavānām': 'of the Pandavas', 'ataḥ': 'therefore/now/next', 'śṛṇu': 'listen'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Dhritarashtra (implied by address nṛpa/rājan)
• Pandavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must hear a complete and balanced assessment before acting. Bhishma’s orderly listing of both sides’ strengths underscores prudent judgment and responsibility in matters of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

After describing the Kaurava side’s warriors by rank (ratha, atiratha, ardharatha), Bhishma turns to describe the Pandava side’s warriors, continuing a structured appraisal of the forces before the impending conflict.