Shloka 18
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
बहूनीह सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च । रथानां तव सेनायां यथामुख्यं तु मे शूणु
bahūnīha sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca | rathānāṃ tava senāyāṃ yathāmukhyaṃ tu me śṛṇu ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dalam bala tentera tuan di sini terdapat banyak ribu, puluh ribu, bahkan berkeror-keror pahlawan kereta perang. Namun demikian, dengarkan daripadaku nama-nama mereka yang paling utama antara mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid overwhelming numbers, discernment matters: Bhīṣma emphasizes identifying the truly foremost warriors, implying that quality, rank, and capability are ethically and strategically more decisive than mere quantity.
In Udyoga Parva, as war preparations intensify, Bhīṣma addresses the Kaurava side, noting the vast scale of their chariot forces and then transitioning to name and highlight the principal fighters in order of prominence.