Shloka 2
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
हतमेव हि पश्यामि गाड़ेयं पितरं रणे । वासुदेवसहायेन पार्थेन दृढ्धन्वना
hatam eva hi paśyāmi gāṅgeyaṃ pitaraṃ raṇe | vāsudeva-sahāyena pārthena dṛḍha-dhanvanā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Aku seakan-akan sudah melihat ayahku Bhīṣma, putera Gaṅgā, terbunuh di medan perang—kerana Pārtha (Arjuna), yang memegang busurnya dengan keteguhan yang tidak tergoyahkan, bertempur dengan Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) sebagai pembantunya. Dengan sokongan sedemikian dan keperkasaan sedemikian, kejatuhan Bhīṣma tampak tidak dapat dielakkan.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and strategic weight of righteous alliance: when extraordinary skill (Arjuna’s steadfast archery) is joined with divine guidance and support (Kṛṣṇa as Vāsudeva), outcomes appear inevitable. It also reflects the ethical tragedy of war—elders and revered figures may fall when dharma and power align against them.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra voices a fearful premonition about the coming Kurukṣetra war: he anticipates that Bhīṣma (Gāṅgeya), whom he calls ‘my father’ as a revered elder, will be slain because Arjuna will fight with Kṛṣṇa’s support.