Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 165 — Bhīṣma’s Appraisal and Karṇa’s Rebuttal (भीष्म–कर्ण विवादः)
महाराज! प्रचण्ड वेगसे प्रहार करनेवाले इन काम्बोजनरेशके रथियोंके समुदायमें काम्बोजदेशीय सैनिकोंकी श्रेणी टिड्डियोंके दल-सी दृष्टिगोचर होती है ।। नीलो माहिष्मतीवासी नीलवर्मा रथस्तव । रथवंशेन कदन शत्रूणां वै करिष्यति
mahārāja! pracaṇḍa-vegena prahāra-karaṇeśu eteṣāṃ kāmboja-nareśa-rathināṃ samūhe kāmboja-deśīya-sainikānāṃ śreṇī ṭiḍḍikā-dala-sī dṛśyate. nīlo māhiṣmatī-vāsī nīla-varmā rathas tava; ratha-vaṃśena kadanaṃ śatrūṇāṃ vai kariṣyati.
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，在这位迦摩波阇君主麾下诸多战车武士之中——他们以狂烈之速出击——迦摩波阇兵列宛如蝗群般铺展。又有尼罗，住于摩醯湿摩底，身披青甲，为陛下之车战勇士；凭其战车世系之威，他必将使敌军遭受屠戮。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic ethic of kṣatriya warfare: leaders assess forces, recognize capable allies, and speak of martial prowess as a duty-bound instrument for protecting one’s side—while also hinting at the grave human cost through imagery of overwhelming numbers and impending slaughter.
Bhīṣma is describing the assembled forces, highlighting the Kāmboja contingents as numerous and swift-striking, and then pointing out Nīla of Māhiṣmatī—blue-armoured and famed by lineage—as a chariot-warrior on the king’s side who will inflict heavy losses on the enemy.