Shloka 6

अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः

Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin

Devanagari script

एतेषां बहुसाहस्रा रथा नागा हयास्तथा | योत्स्यन्ते ते तनूंस्त्यक्त्वा कुन्तीपुत्रप्रियेप्सपा

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ bahusāhasrā rathā nāgā hayās tathā | yotsyante te tanūṃs tyaktvā kuntīputrapriyepsayā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Phe họ có hàng ngàn chiến xa, voi chiến và ngựa chiến. Những chiến binh ấy sẽ giao tranh, sẵn sàng hiến bỏ cả thân mình, vì khát vọng làm điều đẹp lòng con trai của Kuntī (Yudhiṣṭhira).”

Word by Word

• एतेषाम्: of these (men/forces)
• एतेषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, plural

• बहु: many/much
• बहु: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• साहस्राः: thousands (in number)
• साहस्राः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• रथाः: chariots
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• नागाः: elephants
• नागाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• तथा: and likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• योत्स्यन्ते: they will fight
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: lṛṭ (simple future), ātmanepada, 3rd, plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• तनूम्: body
• तनूम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनू
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned (giving up)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: ktvā (absolutive/gerund)

• कुन्तीपुत्रप्रिय: what is dear to Kuntī’s son (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• कुन्तीपुत्रप्रिय: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: कुन्तीपुत्रप्रिय
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• ईप्सवः: desiring/wishing (to obtain)
• ईप्सवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सु
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kuntī
• Kuntīputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• ratha (chariots)
• nāga (war-elephants)
• haya (horses)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast loyalty and readiness for self-sacrifice in the service of a righteous king: warriors are portrayed as willing to risk life itself to accomplish what is dear to Yudhiṣṭhira, framing martial commitment as an ethical vow rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing the strength and resolve of the opposing forces: they possess vast military resources (chariots, elephants, horses), and their fighters are determined to battle even unto death to fulfill Yudhiṣṭhira’s interests.