Shloka 5
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
माहिष्मतीपुरीके निवासी राजा नील भी तुम्हारे दलके एक रथी हैं। इन्होंने नीले रंगका कवच पहन रखा है। ये अपने रथसमूहद्वारा शत्रुओंका संहार कर डालेंगे ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
māhiṣmatīpurīke nivāsī rājā nīlo 'pi tumhāre dalasya ekaḥ rathī | eṣa nīla-varṇasya kavacasya dhārī | eṣa sva-ratha-samūhena śatrūn saṁharṣayiṣyati ||
kṛta-vairaḥ purā caiva sahadevena māriṣa | yotsyate satataṁ rājan tavārthe kuru-nandana ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Si Haring Nīla, na naninirahan sa lungsod ng Māhiṣmatī, ay isa rin sa mga mandirigmang-karwahe sa iyong hukbo. Nakasuot ng bughaw na baluti, wawasakin niya ang kaaway sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga pangkat ng karwahe. Noong una, o minamahal, nagkaroon siya ng alitan kay Sahadeva; kaya, o hari, ang galak ng mga Kuru na ito ay palaging lalaban para sa iyong layon laban sa iyong mga kaaway.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how prior enmities and personal histories shape wartime loyalties: a feud with Sahadeva becomes a motive for Nila’s steadfast commitment to fight for the Kuru side. It reflects the Mahabharata’s ethical realism—dharma in war is often entangled with memory, rivalry, and political alignment.
Bhishma is enumerating and characterizing warriors in the Kuru host. He introduces King Nila of Māhiṣmatī as a notable chariot-fighter, marked by blue armor, and explains that because Nila once became hostile to Sahadeva, he will fight persistently for the Kuru king’s cause against the enemy.