Shloka 20

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)

Devanagari script

कृप: शारद्वतो राजन्‌ रथयूथपयूथप: । प्रियान्‌ प्राणान्‌ परित्यज्य प्रधक्ष्यति रिपूंस्तव

Transliteration

kṛpaḥ śāradvatō rājan rathayūthapayūthapaḥ | priyān prāṇān parityajya pradhakṣyati ripūṁs tava rājan ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜନ୍! ଶରଦ୍ୱାନଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର କୃପାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ରଥ-ୟୂଥପତିମାନଙ୍କର ମଧ୍ୟ ଯୂଥପତି। ସେ ନିଜ ପ୍ରିୟ ପ୍ରାଣକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରି ତୁମ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଦହିଦେବେ।

Word by Word

• कृपः: Kripa
• कृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शारद्वतः: son/descendant of Śaradvat
• शारद्वतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• रथयूथपयूथपः: leader of the leaders of chariot-troops
• रथयूथपयूथपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथयूथपयूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रियान्: dear
• प्रियान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राणान्: lives, vital breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active

• प्रधक्ष्यति: will burn, will scorch
• प्रधक्ष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-धक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रिपून्: enemies
• रिपून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तव: your
• तव: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kṛpa (Kripācārya)
• Śaradvat
• King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra implied)
• chariot-troops (ratha-yūtha)
• enemies (ripus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises steadfast duty and martial resolve: a commander should place responsibility to the cause and protection of one’s side above personal safety, embodying kṣatriya-dharma and disciplined leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s counsel to the Kuru king, he enumerates and commends key warriors. Here he highlights Kṛpa’s high rank among chariot-commanders and foretells his fierce commitment to destroying the king’s enemies in the coming war.