Shloka 23
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
तथाहं भरतश्रेष्ठ सर्वसेनापतिस्तव । शत्रून् विध्वंसयिष्यामि कदर्थीकृत्य पाण्डवान्
tathāhaṃ bharataśreṣṭha sarvasenāpatistava | śatrūn vidhvaṃsayīṣyāmi kadarthīkṛtya pāṇḍavān ||
اے بھرت شریشٹھ! میں ہی تمہاری پوری فوج کا سپہ سالارِ اعظم ہوں؛ اس لیے پہلے پانڈوؤں کو رنج پہنچا کر پھر دشمن لشکر کو تہس نہس کر دوں گا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between personal affection and role-based duty: Bhīṣma, bound by allegiance and his office as commander, commits himself to prosecuting the war against the Pāṇḍavas despite the moral weight of harming kin.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma addresses a Kuru leader as “best of the Bharatas,” affirming his position as commander-in-chief and declaring his intention to subdue the Pāṇḍavas and destroy the opposing forces.