Shloka 25
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
अर्थसिद्धि तव रणे करिष्यति न संशय: । शस्त्रविद्धिरनाधृष्यो दूरपाती दृढायुध:
bhīṣma uvāca |
arthasiddhiṁ tava raṇe kariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ |
śastraviddhir anādhṛṣyo dūrapātī dṛḍhāyudhaḥ |
haniṣyati camūṁ teṣāṁ mahendro dānavān iva ||
युद्धात तो तुझ्या अभिष्ट कार्याची सिद्धी करील—यात संशय नाही. शस्त्रविद्येत निपुण, मोठमोठ्या शस्त्रज्ञांनाही अजेय; दृढ आयुधांनी सज्ज आणि दूरवरचे लक्ष्यही भेदणारा. जसा महेंद्र दानवांचा संहार करतो, तसा तो त्यांच्या सेनेचा विनाश करील.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of confidence grounded in capability: mastery of arms, steadfast equipment, and tactical reach are presented as decisive factors in fulfilling a ruler’s objective in war, reinforced through a mythic analogy to Indra’s victory over the Dānavas.
Bhishma is assuring his side (the Kaurava leadership) that a particular champion will achieve the desired goal in the coming battle and will devastate the opposing army, comparing his expected slaughter to Indra’s destruction of the Dānavas.