Shloka 30
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
सिन्धुराजो महाराज मतो मे द्विगुणो रथ: । योत्स्यते समरे राजन् विक्रान्तो रथसत्तम:
sindhurājo mahārāja mato me dviguṇo rathaḥ | yotsyate samare rājan vikrānto rathasattamaḥ ||
اے مہاراج! میرے نزدیک سندھ کے راجا جےدرَتھ کی قوت دو رتھیوں کے برابر ہے۔ اے راجن، یہ نہایت دلیر اور رتھیوں میں برتر سورما بھی میدانِ جنگ میں پانڈوؤں کے مقابل آئے گا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya-world ethic of assessing warriors by capability and role in battle: leadership involves sober evaluation of strength, not merely lineage or rhetoric, and such appraisal informs strategic and moral responsibility in war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparations, Bhīṣma is describing and ranking allied fighters for the Kaurava side. Here he praises Jayadratha, king of Sindhu, judging him equivalent to two chariot-warriors and stating that he will fight against the Pāṇḍavas.