Shloka 17
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
भीष्म उवाच गान्धारे शृणु राजेन्द्र रथसंख्यां स्वके बले । ये रथा: पृथिवीपाल तथैवातिरथाश्न ये
bhīṣma uvāca gāndhāre śṛṇu rājendra rathasaṅkhyāṃ svake bale | ye rathāḥ pṛthivīpāla tathaivātirathāś ca ye ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai putera Gandhari, wahai tuan segala raja, dengarkanlah bilangan para pahlawan kereta perang dalam bala tentera tuan sendiri. Wahai pelindung bumi, akan aku huraikan mereka yang bertempur di atas kereta perang dan mereka yang merupakan atiratha—pahlawan kereta perang agung—dalam pasukan tuan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsible leadership in war: a ruler must know the true strength and graded capabilities of his forces. Clear assessment and truthful counsel are part of kshatriya duty, especially when decisions carry ethical and societal consequences.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhishma addresses Duryodhana and begins enumerating the Kaurava side’s chariot-warriors, distinguishing between rathas and atirathas as part of a formal assessment of military strength.