Shloka 17
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
दण्डधारो महाराज रथ एको नरर्षभ | योत्स्यते तव संग्रामे स्वेन सैन्येन पालित:,महाराज! नरश्रेष्ठ) अपनी सेनामें दण्डधार भी एक रथी हैं, जो तुम्हारे लिये संग्राममें अपनी सेनासे सुरक्षित होकर लड़ेंगे
daṇḍadhāro mahārāja ratha eko nararṣabha | yotsyate tava saṅgrāme svena sainyena pālitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, ada seorang pahlawan kereta perang—Daṇḍadhāra, banteng di antara manusia—yang akan bertempur dalam peperangan tuanku, dilindungi dan disokong oleh bala tenteranya sendiri. Dialah salah seorang pembela tuanku yang pasti dalam perang yang bakal tiba.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma underscores the practical ethics of kingship in wartime: a ruler must know who truly stands ready to defend him, and strength in battle depends not only on individual valor but also on reliable support and protection from one’s own forces.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Bhīṣma is describing to the king the warriors aligned with him. Here he identifies Daṇḍadhāra as a chariot-fighter who will fight on the king’s side, backed by his own contingent.