Shloka 10
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
मकरा इव राजेन्द्र समुद्धततरड्धिणीम् । गड्जां विक्षो भयिष्यन्ति पार्थानां युधि वाहिनीम्,राजेन्द्र! जैसे ग्राहगण उत्ताल तरंगोंवाली गंगाको मथ डालते हैं, उसी प्रकार ये त्रिगर्तदेशीय पाँचों क्षत्रिय वीर पाण्डवोंकी सेनामें हलचल मचा देंगे
makarā iva rājendra samuddhata-taraṅgiṇīm | gaṅgāṃ vikṣobhayiṣyanti pārthānāṃ yudhi vāhinīm ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó rei, assim como os crocodilos revolvem e agitam violentamente o Ganges quando suas ondas se erguem em tumulto, assim estes cinco heróis kshatriyas de Trigarta lançarão o exército dos Pāṇḍavas em confusão no campo de batalha.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how concentrated valor and aggressive initiative can disrupt even a strong force; it also reflects the Kshatriya ethos where prowess and tactical shock are decisive factors in war.
Bhishma warns the king that the five Trigarta Kshatriya champions will cause major disturbance in the Pandavas’ battle formation, using the image of crocodiles churning the turbulent Ganga to convey the scale of the upheaval.