Shloka 16
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
रथौ तौ कुरुशार्दटूल मतौ मे रथसत्तमौ । क्षत्रधर्मरतौ वीरौ महत् कर्म करिष्यत:
rathau tau kuruśārdūla matau me rathasattamau | kṣatradharmaratau vīrau mahat karma kariṣyataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O tigre sa mga Kuru, sa aking paghatol, ang dalawang iyon ay tunay na mandirigmang nakasakay sa karwahe—at siya ngang pinakamahuhusay sa mga rathi. Tapat sa kṣatriya-dharma, ang mga bayani ay gagawa ng dakilang mga gawa ng kagitingan sa digmaan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms the ideal of kṣatriya-dharma: a warrior’s excellence is measured by disciplined commitment to rightful martial duty and the capacity to act with great courage in battle.
Bhīṣma is evaluating and praising “those two” warriors as foremost chariot-fighters, predicting that, being devoted to the warrior code, they will accomplish major feats in the coming conflict.