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 ||
महाराज! सिंधुराज जयद्रथ याला मी दोन रथींच्या बरोबरीचा मानतो. राजन्, हा अत्यंत पराक्रमी आणि रथी योद्ध्यांमध्ये श्रेष्ठ असा वीरही समरात पांडवांविरुद्ध युद्ध करील.
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.