Chapter 167

“Bhishma said, ‘Sudhakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas, is in myjudgment, equal to a single Ratha. Desiring the success of thy object, hewill certainly fight with the enemy in battle. O best of kings, theKauravas will behold the prowess of this lion among car-warriors exertedfor thee, to be equal to that of Indra himself in battle. As regards thecar-army of this king, O monarch, those smiters of fierce impetus, theKamvojas, will cover a large area like a flight of locusts! Coming from(the province of) Mahishmati, Nila, accoutred in blue mail, is one of thyRathas. With his car-army he will cause a great havoc among thy foes, Ochild, he had hostilities with Sahadeva. O king, he will continuallyfight for thee, O thou of Kuru’s race. Accomplished in battle, and offierce energy and prowess, (the princes) Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti areboth regarded as excellent Rathas. These two heroes among men willconsume the troops of thy foes, with maces and bearded darts, and swordsand long shafts, and javelins hurled from their hands. Like a couple of(elephant) leaders sporting in the midst of their herds, these twoprinces, O monarch, longing for battle, will range the field, each likeYama himself. The five (royal) brothers of Trigarta are, in my judgment,all foremost of Rathas. The sons of Pritha provoked hostilities with themat Virata’s city on that (well-known) occasion. Like huge Makaras, Oking, agitating the stream of the Ganges crested with high waves, theywill agitate the ranks of the Parthas in battle. All the five, O king,are Rathas, having Satyaratha (amongst them) as their first. Rememberingthe wrongs inflicted on them of old by that son of Pandu who is Bhima’syounger brother, when the latter, O Bharata, on his car drawn by whitesteeds, was engaged, O monarch, in subjugating all the kings of theearth, they will certainly exert themselves bravely in battle.Encountering many Maharathas–chief of bowmen–leaders of Kshatriyas–onthe side of the Parthas, they will certainly slay them. Thy son Lakshmanaand the son also of Dussasana–those tigers among men are bothunretreating in battle. In prime of youth, of delicate limbs, endued withgreat activity, those two princes, well-versed with battles and capableof leading all, those tigers among Kurus, those car-warriors, are, Ithink, two of our best Rathas. Devoted to the duties of the Kshatriyaorder, those two heroes will achieve great feats. Dandadhara, O monarch,is, O bull among men, equal to a single Ratha. Guarded by his ownsoldiers, he will fight in battle for thee. Endued with great impetus andprowess, king Vrihadvala, the ruler of the Kosalas, is, in my judgment, Osire, equal to one Ratha. Fierce in arms, this mighty bowman, devoted tothe good of the Dhartarashtras, will exert himself powerfully in battle,gladdening his own friends. Kripa, the son of Saradwat is, O king, aleader of leaders of car-ranks. Reckless even of life which is so dear,he will consume thy foes. Born among a clump of heath as the son of thatgreat sage, viz., the preceptor Gautama, otherwise called Saradwat, he isinvincible like Kartikeya himself. Consuming untold warriors armed withvarious weapons and bows, he will, O sire, roam forth on the field ofbattle like a blazing fire.'”