Shloka 3

भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा

Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength

Devanagari script

द्रोणपुत्रो महेष्वास: सवनिवाति धन्विनः । समरे चित्रयोधी च दृढास्त्रश्न महारथ:,महाधनुर्धर द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा तो सभी धनुर्धरोंसे बढ़कर है। वह युद्धमें विचित्र ढंगसे शत्रुओंका सामना करनेवाला, सुदृढ़ अस्त्रोंसे सम्पन्न तथा महारथी है

Transliteration

droṇaputro maheṣvāsaḥ savanivāti dhanvinaḥ | samare citrayodhī ca dṛḍhāstraś ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

ద్రోణపుత్రుడు అశ్వత్థామ మహాధనుర్ధరుడు; సమస్త ధనుర్ధరులకన్నా అతిశ్రేష్ఠుడు. యుద్ధంలో అతడు విచిత్రమైన పద్ధతులతో పోరాడతాడు; బలమైన అస్త్రశస్త్రాలతో సన్నద్ధుడై, మహారథి అని ప్రసిద్ధుడు.

Word by Word

द्रोणपुत्रःDrona's son

महेष्वासःa great archer (having a great bow)

सर्वनिवातिone who wards off/overcomes all (opponents)

धन्विनःof the bowmen/archers

समरेin battle

चित्रयोधीa fighter of wondrous/varied (tactics)

चand

दृढास्त्रःhaving firm/strong weapons (or missiles)

महारथःa great chariot-warrior

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Droṇa

Aśvatthāmā

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 ethical and practical necessity, in a dharma-driven conflict, of accurately recognizing a warrior’s capability. Bhīṣma’s appraisal models responsible counsel: decisions in war should be informed by clear-eyed assessment rather than pride or negligence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma is describing key fighters. Here he praises Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā as superior among archers, formidable in combat, and a mahāratha—underscoring his importance to the coming battle.