अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
इति श्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि रथातिरथसंख्यानपर्वणि सप्तत्यधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi rathātirathasaṅkhyānaparvaṇi saptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Sa gayon nagtatapos ang ika-isang daan at pitumpung kabanata sa Udyoga Parva ng Śrī Mahābhārata, sa bahaging tinatawag na “Pagbibilang sa mga mandirigmang karo at mga dakilang mandirigmang karo.” Ito’y pormal na pangwakas na pahayag na nagmamarka ng pagsasara ng kabanata at paglipat ng salaysay, at nagbibigay-diin sa masusing pagtutuos ng lakas-militar bago sumiklab ang dakilang digmaan.
भीष्म उवाच
This line is a colophon rather than a doctrinal verse: it underscores the epic’s concern with accountability and clarity—here, the systematic reckoning of martial capability before war—hinting that conflict is approached with deliberate assessment, not impulsiveness.
The text is formally closing the chapter and identifying its placement: the Mahābhārata’s Udyoga Parva, within the section that enumerates categories of chariot-warriors (ratha) and great chariot-warriors (atiratha), setting the stage for the coming battle.