Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 29

भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः

Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead

Devanagari script

उभौ तौ रथिनां श्रेष्ठावुभी भारत दुर्जयौ

Transliteration

ubhau tau rathināṃ śreṣṭhāvubhī bhārata durjayau

Translation

三阇耶说道：“那二人皆为战车武士中的翘楚；而且，婆罗多啊，二人都极难征服。”

Word by Word

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• रथिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठौ: the best
• श्रेष्ठौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• उभी: both
• उभी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भारत: O Bharata
• भारत: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दुर्जयौ: hard to conquer, invincible
• दुर्जयौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and narrative reality of war in the epic: true excellence in a kṣatriya context is measured by prowess and steadfastness, and formidable opponents deserve recognition. It models impartial appraisal even amid partisan conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing that the two warriors under discussion are both premier chariot-fighters and extremely difficult to defeat, setting the tone for the intensity and high stakes of the battle.