Shloka 56

Devanagari script

अश्विनाविव रूपेण तेजसा च समन्वितौ । माद्रीके दोनों पुत्र अश्विनीकुमारोंक समान रूपवान्‌ और तेजस्वी हैं। वे दोनों ही पुरुषरत्न रथी हैं

Transliteration

aśvināv iva rūpeṇa tejasā ca samanvitau | mādrīke dvau putrau aśvinīkumārayoḥ samānarūpavantau ca tejasvinau | ubhau eva puruṣaratnau rathinau |

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను— మాద్రీ యొక్క ఇద్దరు కుమారులు రూపంలోనూ తేజస్సులోనూ అశ్వినీకుమారుల వలె ఉన్నారు. వారు ఇద్దరూ నరశ్రేష్ఠులు, పురుషరత్నాలు, సిద్ధ రథులు।

Word by Word

अश्विनौthe two Ashvins

इवlike, as

रूपेणby/with (their) form, in appearance

तेजसाby/with splendor, brilliance

चand

समन्वितौendowed, possessed (of)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Madri

Nakula

Sahadeva

Ashvins (Ashvinikumaras)

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?

Excellence in a warrior is measured not only by birth or appearance but by embodied qualities—tejas (radiant vigor/valor) and rathitva (trained martial competence). Bhishma’s praise frames Nakula and Sahadeva as exemplary Kshatriyas whose virtues make them ‘gems among men.’

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s preparations and assessments before the great war, Bhishma describes the Pandavas’ strengths. Here he highlights Madri’s twin sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, likening them to the divine Ashvins in beauty and brilliance and affirming them as capable chariot-warriors.