Shloka 17

भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्

Amba-ākhyāna prologue

Devanagari script

वार्थक्षेमिर्महाराज मतो मम महारथ: । चित्रायुधश्न नृपतिर्मतो मे रथसत्तम:,महाराज! वार्धक्षेमिको मैं महारथी मानता हूँ तथा राजा चित्रायुध मेरे विचारसे श्रेष्ठ रथी हैं

Transliteration

Vārthakṣemir mahārāja mato mama mahārathaḥ | Citrāyudhaś ca nṛpatir mato me rathasattamaḥ ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «О великий царь, по моему суждению Вартхакшеми — махаратха (первейший воин, непревзойдённый в колесничном бою). А царь Читраюдха, на мой взгляд, — лучший среди колесничих». В этом наставлении Бхишма тщательно расставляет воинов по достоинству и силе, направляя царя к осмотрительным решениям, согласным с дхармой, перед надвигающейся войной.

Word by Word

वार्धक्षेमिःVārdhakṣemi (a person’s name)

महाराजO great king

मतःconsidered / regarded

ममof me / my

महारथःa great chariot-warrior

चित्रायुधःCitrāyudha (a person’s name)

नृपतिःthe king

मतःconsidered / regarded

मेof me / my

रथसत्तमःthe best of chariot-warriors

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Vārthakṣemi

Citrāyudha

Mahārāja (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Competent leadership requires clear-eyed evaluation of strength and merit. Bhīṣma’s ranking underscores responsible counsel: decisions in war should be guided by accurate assessment rather than impulse, pride, or favoritism—an ethical duty (dharma) of both adviser and king.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s preparations for war, Bhīṣma is describing and classifying notable warriors. Here he identifies Vārthakṣemi as a mahāratha and praises King Citrāyudha as an exceptional chariot-fighter, contributing to an overall appraisal of forces and allies.