their might.  In consequence of their relationship (to the Pandavas) and owing also, O king, to their being endued with strength and prowess, those great bowmen devoted to pure vows, have both derived additional strength from the strength of their affection.  According as the cause is, all strong-armed men become, O bull of Kuru’s race, heroes or cowards.  Actuated by a singleness of purpose, both these kings, who are powerful bowmen, will lay down their very lives in causing a great massacre of thy troops to the best of their might, O slayer of foes!  Fierce in battle, these distinguished heroes, these mighty bowmen, regardless, O Bharata, of their lives, will, at the head of their respective Akshauhinis, achieve great feats, justifying their relationship and the confidence that is reposed on them (by the Pandavas).’”

SECTION CLXXII

“Bhishma said, ’That subjugator of hostile cities, Sikhandin, the son of the king of the Panchalas, is, O king, in my judgment, one of the foremost of Yudhishthira’s Rathas.  Having divested himself on his former sex, he will fight in battle and earn great fame, O Bharata, among thy troops!  He hath a large number of troops,—­Panchalas and Prabhadrakas,—­to support him.  With those hosts of cars he will achieve great feats.  Dhrishtadyumna also, O Bharata, the leader of all Yudhishthira’s army, that mighty car-warrior who is also a disciple of Drona, is, O king, in my judgment, an Atiratha.  Afflicting all foes in battle, he will singly sweep the field, like Pinaka,—­bearing God himself in rage on the occasion of the universal dissolution.  Even great warriors will speak of his car-divisions, so multitudinous are they, as resembling the very ocean or that of the gods, in battle!  Kshattradharman, the son of Dhrishtadyumna, owing to his immature years, as also in consequence of his want of exercise in arms, is, in my judgment, O king, only half a Ratha.  That relative of the Pandavas, the mighty bowman Dhrishtaketu, the heroic son of Sisupala, the king of the Chedis, is a Maharatha.  That brave ruler of the Chedis will, O king, with his son, achieve feats such as are difficult for even a Maharatha.  Kshattradeva, that subjugator of hostile cities, who is devoted to Kshatriya virtues, is, O great king, in my judgment, one of the best Rathas among the Pandavas.  Those brave warriors among the Panchalas, viz., Jayanta and Amitaujas and the great car-warrior Satyajit are all, O king, high-souled Maharathas.  They will all, O sire, fight in battle like furious elephants.  Aja and Bhoja, both endued with great prowess, are both Maharathas.  Possessed of great might, those two heroes will fight for the Pandavas.  Both of them are endued with great lightness of hand in the use of weapons.  Both of them are conversant with all the modes of warfare, both are well-skilled and possessed of firm prowess.  The five Kshatriya brothers, O king, who are difficult of being vanquished, and all of