Chapter I · Śloka 8
Duryodhana uvāca
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः |
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||
bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiñjayaḥ |
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca ||
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca ||
Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa — always victorious in battle — Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta as well.
Bhishma stands first: the grandfather, the near-invincible. Yet Karna's place here — before Kripa, before Ashvatthama — hints at Duryodhana's real hope. Bhishma is duty; Karna is love. The Kaurava army runs on both.