Shloka 51
Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)
तेजोवीर्यबलैर्भूयान् शिखण्डी द्रुपदात्मज: । यः शूरं कृतिनं युद्धे सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्
tejo-vīrya-balair bhūyān śikhaṇḍī drupadātmajaḥ | yaḥ śūraṁ kṛtinaṁ yuddhe sarva-śāstra-viśāradam ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Śikhaṇḍī, putera Drupada, lebih unggul pada seri, keberanian dan kekuatan—dialah yang di medan perang berani berhadapan dengan seorang pahlawan gagah lagi berjasa, yang mahir dalam segala ilmu senjata dan tata perang.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence is assessed in the epic world: tejas (presence), vīrya (courage), bala (strength), and śāstra-viśāradatā (mastery of weapon-lore). It implicitly frames kṣatriya ethics as a blend of inner resolve and disciplined training, not mere aggression.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is speaking about Śikhaṇḍī, describing him as surpassing others in splendor, valor, and strength, and as one who faces formidable, highly trained warriors in battle. The remark situates Śikhaṇḍī’s battlefield significance within the Bhīṣma Parva war narrative.