Shloka 12
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
योधानां दशसाहसंं कृत्वा भागं महाद्युते । सहस्र॑ं रथिनामेकमेष भागो मतो मम
yodhānāṁ daśasāhasraṁ kṛtvā bhāgaṁ mahādyute | sahasraṁ rathinām ekam eṣa bhāgo mato mama ||
ஓ மகாத்யுதே, பத்தாயிரம் வீரர்களை ஒரு பகுதி எனக் கணித்து, ஒரு ரதியை ஆயிரத்திற்குச் சமமாக எண்ணுவது—இதுவே என் கருத்தில் பகுதியின் அளவு.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma proposes a conventional way to quantify military strength by setting equivalences between different troop types, emphasizing disciplined assessment and strategic clarity rather than mere numbers.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma states his view on how to count and compare forces—treating large bodies of common soldiers and elite chariot-fighters by a fixed proportional standard.