Shloka 2
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
बलवन्तौ नरव्याप्रौ दृढक्रोधौ प्रहारिणौ । गान्धारमुख्यौ तरुणौ दर्शनीयौं महाबलौ,गान्धारदेशके ये प्रधान वीर मनुष्योंमें सिंहके समान पराक्रमी, बलवान, अत्यन्त क्रोधी, प्रहार करनेमें कुशल, तरुण, दर्शनीय एवं महाबली हैं
balavantau naravyāghrau dṛḍhakrodhau prahāriṇau | gāndhāramukhyau taruṇau darśanīyau mahābalau ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Kedua-duanya gagah perkasa—bagai harimau di antara manusia—keras dalam amarah dan pantas menyerang. Mereka yang terkemuka dalam kalangan Gandhāra: muda, tampak mengagumkan, dan berkekuatan besar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence—strength, fearlessness, and readiness to strike—can be both admirable and dangerous when driven by unyielding anger. Ethical counsel in the Mahabharata repeatedly warns that power without restraint intensifies destruction and must be considered responsibly in decisions about war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhishma is characterizing notable fighters from Gandhara, emphasizing their youth, appearance, and formidable combat nature. Such descriptions function as strategic assessment: identifying who will matter on the battlefield and why.