Shloka 22

भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्

Amba-ākhyāna prologue

Devanagari script

तथा स समरश्लाघी मन्तव्यो रथसत्तम: । काश्य: परमशीदघ्रास्त्र: श्लाघनीयो नरोत्तम:,तुम मुझको, आचार्य द्रोणको तथा कृपाचार्यको जैसा समझते हो, युद्धमें दूसरे वीरोंसे स्पर्धा रखनेवाले तथा बहुत ही फुर्तीके साथ अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका प्रयोग करनेवाले प्रशंसनीय एवं उत्तम रथी नरश्रेष्ठ काशिराजको भी तुम्हें वैसा ही मानना चाहिये

Transliteration

tathā sa samaraślāghī mantavyo rathasattamaḥ | kāśyaḥ paramaśīghrāstraḥ ślāghanīyo narottamaḥ ||

Translation

అలాగే కాశీరాజుని రథసత్తముడిగా భావించాలి—అతడు సమరంలో గర్వించే వాడు, అస్త్రప్రయోగంలో అత్యంత వేగవంతుడు, నరశ్రేష్ఠులలో ప్రశంసనీయుడు.

Word by Word

तथाthus; likewise

सःhe

समर-श्लाघीboasting of battle; rivaling in war

मन्तव्यःto be regarded; should be considered

रथ-सत्तमःbest of chariot-warriors

काश्यःthe king of Kāśī

परम-शीघ्र-अस्त्रःhaving exceedingly swift weapons; very quick in weapon-use

श्लाघनीयःpraiseworthy

नर-उत्तमःbest of men

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Kāśirāja (king of Kāśī)

Kāśī

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?

Sound conduct in war includes clear-eyed recognition of merit and danger. Bhīṣma urges an honest evaluation of a warrior’s prowess—praise where due—so decisions are guided by reality rather than pride or underestimation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing notable fighters and advising how they should be regarded. Here he highlights the Kāśirāja as a top chariot-warrior, proud in battle and exceptionally fast in weapon-use, deserving the same serious regard as other eminent martial teachers/warriors.