Shloka 25

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

अर्थसिद्धि तव रणे करिष्यति न संशय: । शस्त्रविद्धिरनाधृष्यो दूरपाती दृढायुध:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

arthasiddhiṁ tava raṇe kariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ |

śastraviddhir anādhṛṣyo dūrapātī dṛḍhāyudhaḥ |

haniṣyati camūṁ teṣāṁ mahendro dānavān iva ||

Translation

ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ସେ ତୁମ ଅଭୀଷ୍ଟ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ସାଧନ କରିବ—ଏଥିରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ। ଶସ୍ତ୍ରବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ, ମହା ଶସ୍ତ୍ରଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅନାଧୃଷ୍ୟ; ଦୃଢ଼ ଆୟୁଧଧାରୀ ଏବଂ ଦୂର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭେଦିପାରୁଥିବା। ଯେପରି ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର) ଦାନବମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂହାର କରିଥିଲେ, ସେପରି ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ସେନାକୁ ଧ୍ୱଂସ କରିବ।

Word by Word

• अर्थसिद्धिम्: accomplishment of the desired aim
• अर्थसिद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थसिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• करिष्यति: will accomplish/do
• करिष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शस्त्रविद्धिः: one skilled in weapons
• शस्त्रविद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रविद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनाधृष्यः: unassailable, not to be overpowered
• अनाधृष्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाधृष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दूरपाती: far-shooting/long-range (striker)
• दूरपाती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूरपातिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृढायुधः: having firm/strong weapons
• दृढायुधः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढायुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हनिष्यति: will slay/destroy
• हनिष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• चमूम्: army
• चमूम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them/their
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• महेन्द्रः: Great Indra (lord of gods)
• महेन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दानवान्: demons (Dānavas)
• दानवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Mahendra/Indra (Mahendraḥ)
• Dānavas (Dānavān)
• Army/host (Camū)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of confidence grounded in capability: mastery of arms, steadfast equipment, and tactical reach are presented as decisive factors in fulfilling a ruler’s objective in war, reinforced through a mythic analogy to Indra’s victory over the Dānavas.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is assuring his side (the Kaurava leadership) that a particular champion will achieve the desired goal in the coming battle and will devastate the opposing army, comparing his expected slaughter to Indra’s destruction of the Dānavas.