aparyÄptaá¹ tad asmÄkaá¹
balaá¹ bhīṣmÄbhiraká¹£itam
paryÄptaá¹ tv idam eteá¹£Äá¹
balaá¹ bhÄ«mÄbhiraká¹£itam
aparyÄptam - immeasurable; tat - that; asmÄkam - of ours; balam - strength; bhīṣma - by Grandfather Bhīṣma; abhiraká¹£itam - perfectly protected; paryÄptam - limited; tu - but; idam - all this; eteá¹£Äm - of the PÄṇá¸avas; balam - strength; bhÄ«ma - by BhÄ«ma; abhiraká¹£itam - carefully protected.
Herein an estimation of comparative strength is made by Duryodhana. He thinks that the strength of his armed forces is immeasurable, being speciï¬cally protected by the most experienced general, Grandfather Bhīṣma. On the other hand, the forces of the PÄṇá¸avas are limited, being protected by a less experienced general, BhÄ«ma, who is like a ï¬g in the presence of Bhīṣma. Duryodhana was always envious of BhÄ«ma because he knew perfectly well that if he should die at all, he would only be killed by BhÄ«ma. But at the same time, he was conï¬dent of his victory on account of the presence of Bhīṣma, who was a far superior general. His conclusion that he would come out of the battle victorious was well ascertained.