Shloka 23

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

वृषसेनो रथस्ते5ग्र्य: कर्णपुत्रो महारथ: । प्रधक्ष्यति रिपूर्णां ते बल॑ं तु बलिनां वर:,कर्णका पुत्र वृषसेन भी तुम्हारी सेनाका एक श्रेष्ठ रथी है। इसे महारथी भी कह सकते हैं। बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ वृषसेन तुम्हारे वैरियोंकी विशाल वाहिनीको भस्म कर डालेगा

Transliteration

vṛṣaseno rathas te 'gryaḥ karṇaputro mahārathaḥ | pradhakṣyati ripūṇāṃ te balaṃ tu balināṃ varaḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను— కర్ణుని కుమారుడు వృషసేనుడు నీ సేనలో అగ్ర రథీ; అతడు నిజమైన మహారథుడు. బలవంతులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన ఆ వృషసేనుడు నీ శత్రువుల విస్తార సేనను దహించి భస్మం చేస్తాడు.

Word by Word

वृषसेनःVrishasena

रथःchariot-warrior (ratha-fighter)

तेof you/your

अग्र्यःforemost, excellent

कर्णपुत्रःson of Karna

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior, maharatha

प्रधक्ष्यतिwill burn up, will consume

रिपूणाम्of (your) enemies

तेyour

बलम्army, force

तुbut, indeed

बलिनाम्of the strong (men)

वरःbest, foremost

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Vṛṣasena

Karṇa

enemy army (ripūṇāṃ balam)

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 the kṣatriya ideal of recognizing merit and strength in war: a leader should know and value capable warriors, since disciplined prowess can decisively shape outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing and praising Vṛṣasena, Karṇa’s son, as a foremost chariot-warrior, assuring that he will devastate the opposing forces in the coming conflict.