Shloka 14
Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171
एते रथाश्चातिरथाश्ष तुभ्यं यथाप्रधानं नृप कीर्तिता मया । तथापरे ये<र्धरथाश्न केचित् तथैव तेषामपि कौरवेन्द्र,राजन! इस प्रकार मैंने तुम्हारे इन मुख्य-मुख्य रथियों और अतिरथियोंका वर्णन किया है। इनके सिवा, जो कोई अर्धरथी हैं, उनका भी परिचय दिया है। कौरवेन्द्र! इसी प्रकार पाण्डवपक्षके भी रथी आदिका दिग्दर्शन कराया गया है
ete rathāś cātirathāś ca tubhyaṃ yathāpradhānaṃ nṛpa kīrtitā mayā | tathāpare ye ’rdharathāḥ kecit tathaiva teṣām api kauravendra rājan ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó rei, descrevi-te, segundo a devida ordem de importância, estes guerreiros classificados como combatentes de carro e grandes combatentes de carro. Do mesmo modo, indiquei também aqueles outros que são contados como ‘meio-carro’. Ó senhor dos Kurus, ó rei—assim foi exposto o panorama de tais guerreiros.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes disciplined, hierarchical assessment in matters of state and war: a leader should understand relative capability and rank, and decisions should be informed by clear evaluation rather than impulse.
Bhishma is concluding a structured enumeration of fighters—those ranked as ratha and atiratha, and also those of lesser rank (ardharatha)—addressing the Kuru king (Duryodhana) as part of the Udyoga Parva’s preparations and counsel before the great war.