Shloka 8
भीष्म–दुर्योधनसंवादः — शिखण्डिनं न हन्तुं कारणकथनम्
Amba-ākhyāna prologue
शिशुपालसुतो वीरश्लेदिराजो महारथ: । धृष्टकेतुर्महेष्वास: सम्बन्धी पाण्डवस्य ह,शिशुपालका वीर पुत्र महाधनुर्धर चेदिराज धृष्टकेतु पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरका सम्बन्धी एवं महारथी है
śiśupālasuto vīraḥ śledirājo mahārathaḥ | dhṛṣṭaketūr maheṣvāsaḥ sambandhī pāṇḍavasya ha ||
శిశుపాలుని వీరపుత్రుడు ధృష్టకేతు—చేది రాజు—మహారథి, మహాధనుర్ధరుడు; అతడు పాండవులకు బంధువు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how kinship and political alliances shape dharma in royal conflicts: a warrior’s participation is often grounded in family ties and obligations, not merely personal preference.
Bhīṣma is identifying notable warriors and their affiliations, stating that Dhṛṣṭaketu of Cedi—son of Śiśupāla—is a great archer and chariot-warrior and is connected by kinship to the Pāṇḍavas.