Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 4 (1.4)

The yardstick of comparison — Bhima and Arjuna. Duryodhana calls the Pandava warriors "equal to Bhima and Arjuna". This is interesting: he makes two of the Pandava brothers themselves the measure of his anxiety. Bhima's strength and Arjuna's archery were symbols of fear on the Kaurava side. Madhusudana says that even after saying "maheshvaasa" (with mighty bows), if someone should doubt that a big bow does not bring skill in battle, Duryodhana adds: yudhi bhīmārjunasamāḥ — in battle too they are equal to Bhima and Arjuna.

Three names:

• Yuyudhana (Satyaki): a great warrior of the Vrishni (Yadava) clan; Arjuna's disciple and close to Krishna. Shridhara and Madhusudana both say clearly — yuyudhānaḥ sātyakiḥ.
• Virata: king of the Matsya country, in whose court the Pandavas spent their one year of living incognito. His daughter Uttara was married to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu.
• Drupada: king of Panchala, father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna — and Drona's old friend-turned-enemy (see 1.3).

The meaning of "maharatha". This is a traditional rank. Shridhara Svami and Madhusudana Sarasvati quote a smriti verse: one who can fight ten thousand archers single-handed and is skilled in both shastra (weapons) and shaastra (learning) is called a maharatha. Above him is the atiratha (one who fights countless warriors), below him the ratha (one who fights one) and the ardharatha (less than that). This definition indicates a warrior's rank more than a literal number.

Praise of the enemy in Sanjaya's account. It is worth noticing that Duryodhana is praising his opponents. This could be honesty, or it could be anxiety. In the following shlokas we will see how he handles this anxiety.