Shloka 6

Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171

Devanagari script

भैमसेनिर्महाराज हैडिम्बो राक्षसे श्वर: । मतो मे बहुमायावी रथयूथपयूथप:,महाराज! भीमसेन और हिडिम्बाका पुत्र राक्षसराज घटोत्कच बड़ा मायावी है। वह मेरे मतमें रथयूथपतियोंका भी यूथपति है

Transliteration

bhaimasenir mahārāja haiḍimbo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | mato me bahumāyāvī rathayūthapayūthapaḥ ||

Translation

மகாராஜா! பீமசேனன் மற்றும் ஹிடிம்பாவின் மகன் கடோற்கசன் ராக்ஷசர்களின் அரசன். என் கணிப்பில் அவன் மிகுந்த மாயைத் திறன் உடையவன்; ரதப் படைத்தலைவர்களுக்குமே தலைவன்.

Word by Word

भैमसेनिःGhaṭotkaca (son of Bhīmasena)

महाराजO great king

हैडिम्बःHaiḍimba (Ghaṭotkaca)

राक्षसेश्वरःlord/king of the rākṣasas

मतःconsidered/held (as)

मेof me / in my (opinion)

बहुमायावीvery magical; possessing many illusions

रथयूथपयूथपःleader of the leaders of chariot-troops (supreme chariot-commander)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Ghaṭotkaca

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Hiḍimbā

Rākṣasas

Mahārāja (addressed king, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra in context)

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?

The verse highlights prudent discernment in leadership: a wise commander (Bhīṣma) evaluates strength realistically, acknowledging even an opponent’s exceptional capabilities. Ethically, it models truthful counsel to the king—placing accurate assessment above pride or factional bias.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma is describing and ranking key warriors. Here he points out Ghaṭotkaca’s extraordinary māyā-based power and his status as a foremost leader among chariot-warrior divisions, warning the king of the Pāṇḍavas’ formidable ally.