Shloka 10

भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्

Amba-ākhyāna prologue

Devanagari script

क्षत्रधर्मरतो महां मत: परपुरंजय: । क्षत्रदेवस्तु राजेन्द्र पाण्डवेषु रथोत्तम:,राजेन्द्र! शत्रुओंकी नगरीपर विजय पानेवाला क्षत्रियधर्मपरायण क्षत्रदेव मेरे मतमें पाण्डवसेनाका एक श्रेष्ठ रथी है

Transliteration

kṣatradharmarato mahān mataḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | kṣatradevas tu rājendra pāṇḍaveṣu rathottamaḥ ||

Translation

രാജേന്ദ്രാ! ശത്രുനഗരങ്ങൾ ജയിക്കുന്ന, ക്ഷത്രധർമ്മനിഷ്ഠനായ ക്ഷത്രദേവൻ എന്റെ അഭിപ്രായത്തിൽ പാണ്ഡവരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരഥിയാണ്.

Word by Word

क्षत्रधर्मरतःdevoted to the kshatriya-duty

महान्great

मतःconsidered / regarded

परपुरंजयःconqueror of enemy-cities

क्षत्रदेवःKshatradeva (proper name)

तुbut / indeed

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

पाण्डवेषुamong the Pandavas / in the Pandavas' (side)

रथोत्तमःthe best chariot-warrior

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Kṣatradeva

Pāṇḍavas

enemy cities/fortresses (parapura)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds kṣatriya-dharma: excellence in war is framed as disciplined adherence to a warrior’s duty, not mere aggression—valor is praised when aligned with rightful conduct and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is assessing and praising a warrior named Kṣatradeva, identifying him as a foremost chariot-fighter within the Pāṇḍava side and noting his reputation for overcoming enemy strongholds.