Bhishma Counts the Pandava Chariot-Warriors

Verse 1 (5.171.1)

पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतो राजन्परपुरंजयः । शिखण्डी रथमुख्यो मे मतः पार्थस्य भारत ॥

pāñcālarājasya suto rājanparapuraṃjayaḥ | śikhaṇḍī rathamukhyo me mataḥ pārthasya bhārata

The son of the king of the Panchalas, O king, the conqueror of enemy cities, Shikhandin, I count as a leading chariot-warrior of Partha's side, O Bharata.

Verse 2 (5.171.2)

एष योत्स्यति संग्रामे नाशयन्पूर्वसंस्थितम् । परं यशो विप्रथयंस्तव सेनासु भारत ॥

eṣa yotsyati saṃgrāme nāśayanpūrvasaṃsthitam | paraṃ yaśo viprathayaṃstava senāsu bhārata

He will fight in battle, casting off his former state and spreading his high fame among your armies, O Bharata.

Verse 3 (5.171.3)

एतस्य बहुलाः सेनाः पाञ्चालाश्च प्रभद्रकाः । तेनासौ रथवंशेन महत्कर्म करिष्यति ॥

etasya bahulāḥ senāḥ pāñcālāśca prabhadrakāḥ | tenāsau rathavaṃśena mahatkarma kariṣyati

He has large forces, the Panchalas and the Prabhadrakas; with that host of chariots he will do great deeds.

Verse 4 (5.171.4)

धृष्टद्युम्नश्च सेनानीः सर्वसेनासु भारत । मतो मेऽतिरथो राजन्द्रोणशिष्यो महारथः ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca senānīḥ sarvasenāsu bhārata | mato me'tiratho rājandroṇaśiṣyo mahārathaḥ

Dhrishtadyumna, the commander of all the armies, O Bharata, Drona's pupil and a great chariot-warrior, I count as an atiratha, O king.

Verse 5 (5.171.5)

एष योत्स्यति संग्रामे सूदयन्वै परान्रणे । भगवानिव संक्रुद्धः पिनाकी युगसंक्षये ॥

eṣa yotsyati saṃgrāme sūdayanvai parānraṇe | bhagavāniva saṃkruddhaḥ pinākī yugasaṃkṣaye

He will fight in battle, cutting down his enemies on the field, like the blessed Lord who bears the Pinaka bow, enraged at the end of an age.

Verse 6 (5.171.6)

एतस्य तद्रथानीकं कथयन्ति रणप्रियाः । बहुत्वात्सागरप्रख्यं देवानामिव संयुगे ॥

etasya tadrathānīkaṃ kathayanti raṇapriyāḥ | bahutvātsāgaraprakhyaṃ devānāmiva saṃyuge

Those who delight in battle say that his array of chariots, for its sheer size, is like the ocean, like the host of the gods in war.

Verse 7 (5.171.7)

क्षत्रधर्मा तु राजेन्द्र मतो मेऽर्धरथो नृप । धृष्टद्युम्नस्य तनयो बाल्यान्नातिकृतश्रमः ॥

kṣatradharmā tu rājendra mato me'rdharatho nṛpa | dhṛṣṭadyumnasya tanayo bālyānnātikṛtaśramaḥ

But Kshatradharman, O lord of kings, Dhrishtadyumna's son, I count as half a chariot-warrior, O king; being a boy, he has not yet laboured much at arms.

Verse 8 (5.171.8)

शिशुपालसुतो वीरश्चेदिराजो महारथः । धृष्टकेतुर्महेष्वासः संबन्धी पाण्डवस्य ह ॥

śiśupālasuto vīraścedirājo mahārathaḥ | dhṛṣṭaketurmaheṣvāsaḥ saṃbandhī pāṇḍavasya ha

Shishupala's heroic son, the king of the Chedis, a great chariot-warrior, Dhrishtaketu the mighty archer, is a kinsman of the Pandavas.

Verse 9 (5.171.9)

एष चेदिपतिः शूरः सह पुत्रेण भारत । महारथानां सुकरं महत्कर्म करिष्यति ॥

eṣa cedipatiḥ śūraḥ saha putreṇa bhārata | mahārathānāṃ sukaraṃ mahatkarma kariṣyati

This brave lord of the Chedis, together with his son, O Bharata, will accomplish great deeds, such as come easily to great chariot-warriors.

Verse 10 (5.171.10)

क्षत्रधर्मरतो मह्यं मतः परपुरंजयः । क्षत्रदेवस्तु राजेन्द्र पाण्डवेषु रथोत्तमः ॥

kṣatradharmarato mahyaṃ mataḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | kṣatradevastu rājendra pāṇḍaveṣu rathottamaḥ

Devoted to the warrior's duty, he is in my view a conqueror of enemy cities; and Kshatradeva, O lord of kings, is an excellent chariot-warrior among the Pandavas.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.168.10ab; Wikisource divides CE 5.168.10–12 differently, so the automatic alignment found no match for its verses 10–13 (the page's own verse division is followed).

Verse 11 (5.171.11)

जयन्तश्चामितौजाश्च सत्यजिच्च महारथः । महारथा महात्मानः सर्वे पाञ्चालसत्तमाः ॥

jayantaścāmitaujāśca satyajicca mahārathaḥ | mahārathā mahātmānaḥ sarve pāñcālasattamāḥ

Jayanta, Amitaujas and the great chariot-warrior Satyajit, all great chariot-warriors, great-souled and the best of the Panchalas,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.10ef; line 2 is 5.168.11ab.

Verse 12 (5.171.12)

योत्स्यन्ते समरे तात संरब्धा इव कुञ्जराः । अजो भोजश्च विक्रान्तौ पाण्डवार्थे महारथौ ॥

yotsyante samare tāta saṃrabdhā iva kuñjarāḥ | ajo bhojaśca vikrāntau pāṇḍavārthe mahārathau

will fight in battle, my son, like enraged elephants. Aja and Bhoja, two valiant great chariot-warriors on the Pandavas' side,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.11cd; line 2 is 5.168.12ab (reading pāṇḍaveṣu where Wikisource has पाण्डवार्थे).

Verse 13 (5.171.13)

योत्स्येते बलिनौ शूरौ परं शक्त्या यतिष्यतः । शीघ्रास्त्राश्चित्रयोद्धारः कृतिनो दृढविक्रमाः ॥

yotsyete balinau śūrau paraṃ śaktyā yatiṣyataḥ | śīghrāstrāścitrayoddhāraḥ kṛtino dṛḍhavikramāḥ

both strong and brave, will fight and strive with all their might. They are swift with their weapons, masters of varied fighting, skilled and firm in valour.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the critical edition's 5.168.12cd–ef: line 1 reads योत्स्येते बलिनौ शूरौ where the critical edition has pāṇḍavānāṃ sahāyārthe, and line 2 has plurals where the critical edition has duals (śīghrāstrau citrayoddhārau kṛtinau dṛḍhavikramau); kept as the base text.

Verse 14 (5.171.14)

केकयाः पञ्च राजेन्द्र भ्रातरो दृढविक्रमाः । सर्वे चैव रथोदाराः सर्वे लोहितकध्वजाः ॥

kekayāḥ pañca rājendra bhrātaro dṛḍhavikramāḥ | sarve caiva rathodārāḥ sarve lohitakadhvajāḥ

The five Kekaya brothers, O lord of kings, firm in valour, are all noble chariot-warriors, all with red banners.

Verse 15 (5.171.15)

काशिकः सुकुमारश्च नीलो यश्चापरो नृप । सूर्यदत्तश्च शङ्खश्च मदिराश्वश्च नामतः ॥

kāśikaḥ sukumāraśca nīlo yaścāparo nṛpa | sūryadattaśca śaṅkhaśca madirāśvaśca nāmataḥ

Kashika, Sukumara, Nila and another king besides, Suryadatta, Shankha, and the one named Madirashva —

Verse 16 (5.171.16)

सर्व एव रथोदाराः सर्वे चाहवलक्षणाः । सर्वास्त्रविदुषः सर्वे महात्मानो मता मम ॥

sarva eva rathodārāḥ sarve cāhavalakṣaṇāḥ | sarvāstraviduṣaḥ sarve mahātmāno matā mama

all of these are noble chariot-warriors, all bear the marks of battle, all are versed in every weapon; all of them, in my view, are great-souled.

Verse 17 (5.171.17)

वार्धक्षेमिर्महाराज मतो मम महारथः । चित्रायुधश्च नृपतिर्मतो मे रथसत्तमः ॥

vārdhakṣemirmahārāja mato mama mahārathaḥ | citrāyudhaśca nṛpatirmato me rathasattamaḥ

Vardhakshemi, great king, I count as a great chariot-warrior, and King Chitrayudha I count as an excellent chariot-warrior.

Note on the text: Corrected चित्रायुघश्च → चित्रायुधश्च (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध in the name Chitrayudha, critical edition citrāyudhaś). The critical edition's 5.168.16ab–cd (with ratho mama mahān mataḥ for मतो मम महारथः); the alignment found no match because the verse division differs.

Verse 18 (5.171.18)

स हि सङ्ग्रामशोभी च भक्तश्चापि किरीटिनः । चेकितानः सत्यधृतिः पाण्डवानां महारथौ । द्वाविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ रथोदारौ मतौ मम ॥

sa hi saṅgrāmaśobhī ca bhaktaścāpi kirīṭinaḥ | cekitānaḥ satyadhṛtiḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathau | dvāvimau puruṣavyāghrau rathodārau matau mama

He shines in battle and is devoted to Kiritin (Arjuna). Chekitana and Satyadhriti are great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas; these two tigers among men I count as noble chariot-warriors.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.16ef; lines 2–3 are 5.168.17.

Verse 19 (5.171.19)

व्याघ्रदत्तश्च राजेन्द्र चन्द्रसेनश्च भारत । मतौ मम रथोदारौ पाण्डवानां न संशयः ॥

vyāghradattaśca rājendra candrasenaśca bhārata | matau mama rathodārau pāṇḍavānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Vyaghradatta, O lord of kings, and Chandrasena, O Bharata, I count as noble chariot-warriors of the Pandavas, without doubt.

Verse 20 (5.171.20)

सेनाबिन्दुश्च राजेन्द्र क्रोधहन्ता च नामतः । यः समो वासुदेवेन भीमसेनेन वा विभो ॥

senābinduśca rājendra krodhahantā ca nāmataḥ | yaḥ samo vāsudevena bhīmasenena vā vibho

Senabindu, O lord of kings, also called Krodhahanta, who is the equal of Vasudeva or of Bhimasena, O mighty one,

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.168.19ab–cd (reading bhīmasenena cābhibhūḥ for भीमसेनेन वा विभो); Wikisource divides CE 5.168.19–25 differently, so the automatic alignment found no match for its verses 20–27 (the page's own verse division is followed).

Verse 21 (5.171.21)

स योत्स्यति हि विक्रम्य समरे तव सैनिकैः । मां च द्रोणं कृपं चैव यथा संमन्यते भवान् ॥

sa yotsyati hi vikramya samare tava sainikaiḥ | māṃ ca droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ caiva yathā saṃmanyate bhavān

he will fight boldly in battle against your soldiers. As you esteem me, Drona and Kripa,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.19ef (reading yotsyatīha for योत्स्यति हि); line 2 is 5.168.20ab.

Verse 22 (5.171.22)

तथा स समरश्लाघी मन्तव्यो रथसत्तमः । काश्यः परमशीघ्रास्त्रः श्लाघनीयो नरोत्तमः ॥

tathā sa samaraślāghī mantavyo rathasattamaḥ | kāśyaḥ paramaśīghrāstraḥ ślāghanīyo narottamaḥ

so should that warrior, who glories in battle, be reckoned an excellent chariot-warrior. The king of Kashi, extremely swift with his weapons, praiseworthy, best of men,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.20cd; line 2 is 5.168.21ab (reading rathottamaḥ for नरोत्तमः).

Verse 23 (5.171.23)

रथ एकगुणो मह्यं ज्ञेयः परपुरंजयः । अयं च युधि विक्रान्तो मन्तव्योऽष्टगुणो रथः ॥

ratha ekaguṇo mahyaṃ jñeyaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | ayaṃ ca yudhi vikrānto mantavyo'ṣṭaguṇo rathaḥ

is in my view to be known as a chariot-warrior of single measure, a conqueror of enemy cities. And this one, valiant in battle, is to be reckoned a chariot-warrior eight times over:

Note on the text: Corrected मन्तव्योष्टगुणो → मन्तव्योऽष्टगुणो (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, मन्तव्यः अष्टगुणः, critical edition mantavyo 'ṣṭaguṇo). Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.21cd (reading mataḥ for ज्ञेयः); line 2 is 5.168.22ab.

Verse 24 (5.171.24)

सत्यजित्समरश्लाघी द्रुपदस्यात्मजो युवा । गतः सोऽतिरथत्वं हि धृष्टद्युम्नेन संमितः ॥

satyajitsamaraślāghī drupadasyātmajo yuvā | gataḥ so'tirathatvaṃ hi dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃmitaḥ

Satyajit, who glories in battle, the young son of Drupada. He has reached the rank of an atiratha, matched with Dhrishtadyumna.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.22cd; line 2 is 5.168.23ab.

Verse 25 (5.171.25)

पाण्डवानां यशस्कामः परं कर्म करिष्यति । अनुरक्तश्च शूरश्च रथोऽयमपरो महान् ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaskāmaḥ paraṃ karma kariṣyati | anuraktaśca śūraśca ratho'yamaparo mahān

Seeking glory for the Pandavas, he will do the highest deeds. Devoted and brave, here is another great chariot-warrior:

Note on the text: Corrected अनुरक्ताश्च → अनुरक्तश्च (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective must be singular, agreeing with शूरः and रथः, critical edition anuraktaś ca). Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.23cd; line 2 is 5.168.24ab.

Verse 26 (5.171.26)

पाण्ड्यराजो महावीर्यः पाण्डवानां धुरंधरः । दृढधन्वा महेष्वासः पाण्डवानां महारथः ॥

pāṇḍyarājo mahāvīryaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ dhuraṃdharaḥ | dṛḍhadhanvā maheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ

the king of the Pandyas, of great valour, a bearer of the Pandavas' burden. Dridhadhanvan, the mighty archer, is a great chariot-warrior of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.168.24cd; line 2 is 5.168.25ab (reading rathottamaḥ for महारथः).

Verse 27 (5.171.27)

श्रेणिमान्कौरवश्रेष्ठ वसुदानश्च पार्थिवः । उभावेतावतिरथौ मतौ परपुरंजयौ ॥

śreṇimānkauravaśreṣṭha vasudānaśca pārthivaḥ | ubhāvetāvatirathau matau parapuraṃjayau

Shrenimat, O best of the Kurus, and King Vasudana — both of these I count as atirathas, conquerors of enemy cities.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.168.25cd–ef (reading matau mama paraṃtapa for मतौ परपुरंजयौ).