Chapter 171

“Bhishma said, ‘All the five sons of Draupadi, O monarch, are Maharathas.Virata’s son Uttara is, in my judgment, one of the foremost of Rathas.The mighty-armed Abhimanyu is a leader of leaders of car-divisions.Indeed, that slayer of foes is equal in battle to Partha himself orVasudeva. Endued with great lightness of hand in shooting weapons, andacquainted with all the modes of warfare, he is possessed of great energyand is steady in the observance of vows. Remembering the sufferings ofhis own father, he will put forth his prowess. The brave Satyaki ofMadhu’s race is a leader of leaders of car-divisions. Foremost among theheroes of the Vrishni race, he is endued with great wrath, and isperfectly dauntless. Uttamaujas also, O king, is an excellent car-warriorin my judgment. And Yudhamanyu, too, of great prowess, is, in myjudgment, an excellent car-warrior. All those chiefs own many thousandsof cars and elephants and horses, and they will fight, reckless of theirvery lives, from desire of doing what is agreeable to Kunti’s sons.Uniting with the Pandavas, they will, O great king, sweep through thyranks like fire or the wind, challenging thy warriors. Invincible inbattle, those bulls among men, old Virata and old Drupada, both enduedwith great prowess, are, in my judgment, both Maharathas. Though old inyears yet both of them are devoted to the observance of Kshatriyavirtues. Treading along the path that is trod by heroes, both of themwill exert to the best of their might. In consequence of theirrelationship (to the Pandavas) and owing also, O king, to their beingendued with strength and prowess, those great bowmen devoted to purevows, have both derived additional strength from the strength of theiraffection. According as the cause is, all strong-armed men become, O bullof Kuru’s race, heroes or cowards. Actuated by a singleness of purpose,both these kings, who are powerful bowmen, will lay down their very livesin causing a great massacre of thy troops to the best of their might, Oslayer of foes! Fierce in battle, these distinguished heroes, thesemighty bowmen, regardless, O Bharata, of their lives, will, at the headof their respective Akshauhinis, achieve great feats, justifying theirrelationship and the confidence that is reposed on them (by thePandavas).'”