सत्यव्रतो रथवरो राजपुत्रो महारथः ॥
तव राजन् रिपुबले कालवत् प्रचरिष्यति ॥
एतस्य योधा राजेन्द्र विचित्रकवचायुधाः ॥
विचरिष्यन्ति संग्रामे निघ्नन्तः शात्रवांस् तव ॥
वृषसेनो रथाग्र्यस् ते कर्णपुत्रो महारथः ॥
प्रधक्ष्यति रिपूणां ते बलानि बलिनां वरः ॥
जलसंधो महातेजा राजन् रथवरस् तव ॥
त्यक्ष्यते समरे प्राणान् मागधः परवीरहा ॥
एष योत्स्यति संग्रामे गजस्कन्धविशारदः ॥
रथेन वा महाबाहुः क्षपयञ् शत्रुवाहिनीम् ॥
satyavrato rathavaro rājaputro mahārathaḥ ||
tava rājan ripubale kālavat pracariṣyati ||
etasya yodhā rājendra vicitrakavacāyudhāḥ ||
vicariṣyanti saṃgrāme nighnantaḥ śātravāṃs tava ||
vṛṣaseno rathāgryas te karṇaputro mahārathaḥ ||
pradhakṣyati ripūṇāṃ te balāni balināṃ varaḥ ||
jalasaṃdho mahātejā rājan rathavaras tava ||
tyakṣyate samare prāṇān māgadhaḥ paravīrahā ||
eṣa yotsyati saṃgrāme gajaskandhaviśāradaḥ ||
rathena vā mahābāhuḥ kṣapayañ śatruvāhinīm ||
Satyavrata, the best ratha, a prince and maharatha, will move through the enemy's ranks, O king, like Time itself. His warriors, O lord of kings, clad in varied armor and weapons, will range through the battle, slaying your enemies. Vrishasena, foremost among your rathas, the son of Karna and a maharatha, best of the strong, will burn up your enemies' forces. Jalasandha, the greatly splendorous king of Magadha, your best ratha, O king, will give up his life in battle — this destroyer of enemy heroes. Skilled in fighting from an elephant's back, he will do battle also from a chariot, O mighty-armed one, destroying the enemy army.
e70db6c7cbb1 · published Jul 17, 2026, 6:32:37 AM UTC
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Bhishma goes on to weigh not only the warriors' strength but the limits of that strength. Ashvatthaman is nearly boundless in weaponry, yet his attachment to life makes any reckoning of him uncertain; Drona is capable of destroying entire armies, yet his love for Arjuna restrains his hand. In this way the roster of ratha warriors becomes not a dry military ledger but a map of inner knots: valor, attachment, old pacts, past enmity, and personal debts all enter the battle together with the weapons.