Shloka 18

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)

Devanagari script

बृहद्धलस्तथा राजा कौसल्यो रथसत्तम: । रथो मम मतस्तात महावेगपराक्रम:,तात! महान्‌ वेग और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न कोसलदेशके राजा बृहद्‌बल भी मेरी दृष्टिमें एक रथी हैं और रथियोंमें इनका स्थान बहुत ऊँचा है

Transliteration

Bṛhaddhalas tathā rājā Kausalyo rathasattamaḥ | ratho mama matas tāta mahāvegaparākramaḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—తాతా! కోసల రాజు బృహద్ధలుడు కూడా నా దృష్టిలో శ్రేష్ఠ రథికుడు; అతడు మహావేగం, పరాక్రమం కలవాడు, రథికులలో అతని స్థానం అత్యున్నతం.

Word by Word

• बृहद्बलः: Bṛhadbala (the mighty-strong one; proper name)
• बृहद्बलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहद्बल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौसल्यः: of Kosala, Kosalan
• कौसल्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौसल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथसत्तमः: best among chariot-warriors
• रथसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथः: a chariot-warrior (ratha)
• रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• मतः: considered, regarded (as)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तात: dear one, son (vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महावेगपराक्रमः: possessing great speed and prowess
• महावेगपराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावेगपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तात: dear one (vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bṛhaddhala
• Kosala

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of recognizing merit in battle: Bhīṣma evaluates warriors by tangible qualities—speed, strength, and valor—emphasizing fair appraisal and respect for capability even amid impending conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s preparations for war, Bhīṣma is describing and ranking notable fighters. Here he names Bṛhaddhala of Kosala and counts him among the high-class chariot-warriors (rathas), praising his great speed and prowess.