Shloka 4
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)
तात! कुन्तीका आनन्द बढ़ानेवाले स्वयं पाण्डुपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिर एक श्रेष्ठ रथी (महारथी) हैं। वे समरभूमिमें अग्निके समान सब ओर विचरेंगे, इसमें संशय नहीं है ।। भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र रथोडष्टगुणसम्मित: । न तस्यास्ति समो युद्धे गदया सायकैरपि
tāta! kuntīkā ānanda-baḍhānevale svayaṃ pāṇḍuputra rājā yudhiṣṭhira eka śreṣṭha-rathī (mahārathī) haiṃ. ve samarabhūmi meṃ agni ke samāna saba ora vicareṅge, ismeṃ saṃśaya nahīṃ hai. bhīmasenas tu rājendra ratho ’ṣṭaguṇa-sammitaḥ | na tasyāsti samo yuddhe gadayā sāyakair api ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Meu filho, Yudhiṣṭhira —filho de Pāṇḍu, o rei que aumenta a alegria de Kuntī— é por si mesmo um excelente guerreiro de carro, um verdadeiro mahāratha. No campo de batalha ele percorrerá todas as direções como o fogo; disso não há dúvida. E Bhīmasena, ó melhor dos reis, é um combatente de carro dotado de vigor oito vezes pleno; na guerra não tem igual — seja com a maça, seja mesmo com flechas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma underscores the rightful martial capacity of the Pāṇḍavas: Yudhiṣṭhira is not merely a moral king but also a competent mahāratha, and Bhīma’s unmatched power—especially with the mace—signals that dharma in a kṣatriya context includes the ability to protect and prevail when war becomes unavoidable.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma is describing and assessing the fighting strength of the Pāṇḍavas. He highlights Yudhiṣṭhira’s battlefield presence and Bhīma’s extraordinary prowess, emphasizing that their side possesses formidable warriors.