Shloka 6
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava-Aligned Mahārathas
Warrior Roster and Motivations
धृष्टकेतुं च शल्याय गौतमायोत्तमौजसम् । अश्वत्थाम्ने च नकुलं शैब्यं च कृतवर्मणे,धृष्टकेतुको शल्यसे, उत्तमौजाको कृपाचार्यसे, नकुलको अअभ्रवत्थामासे, शैब्यको कृतवर्मासे, वृष्णिवंशी सात्यकिको सिन्धुराज जयद्रथसे और शिखण्डीको भीष्मसे मुख्यतः युद्ध करनेका आदेश दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca śalyāya gautamāyottamaujasaṃ |
aśvatthāmne ca nakulaṃ śaibyaṃ ca kṛtavarmaṇe ||
ଧୃଷ୍ଟକେତୁଙ୍କୁ ଶଲ୍ୟଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧେ, ଉତ୍ତମୌଜାଙ୍କୁ ଗୌତମ (କୃପାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ)ଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧେ, ନକୁଳଙ୍କୁ ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମାଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧେ ଓ ଶୈବ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ କୃତବର୍ମାଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧେ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, authority translates into binding assignments: leaders allocate opponents, turning personal valor into organized duty. Ethically, it underscores the burden of command—naming matchups is not merely tactical but also a moral act that commits others to violence within the contested framework of kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya reports the pre-battle planning in which Duryodhana (in context) designates who should fight whom. Specific warriors are paired with specific adversaries, indicating a deliberate strategy and an attempt to counter notable fighters by assigning them targeted opponents.