bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca
kṛpaś ca samitiḿ-jayaḥ
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca
saumadattis tathaiva ca

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 1.8

There are personalities like you, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle.

Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya:

Duryodhana mentions the exceptional heroes in the battle, all of whom are ever victorious. Vikarna is the brother of Duryodhana, Asvatthama is the son of Dronacarya, and Saumadatti, or Bhurisrava, is the son of the King of the Bahlikas. Karna is the half brother of Arjuna, as he was born of Kunti before her marriage with King Pandu. Kripacarya’s twin sister married Dronacarya.

Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya:

Saumadatti refers to Bhurisrava, the son of Somadatta.

Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:

1.1 – 1.19 Dhrtarastra said — Sanjaya said — Duryodhana, after viewing the forces of Pandavas protected by Bhima, and his own forces protected by Bhisma conveyed his views thus to Drona, his teacher, about the adequacy of Bhima’s forces for conquering the Kaurava forces and the inadequacy of his own forces for victory against the Pandava forces. He was grief-stricken within. Observing his (Duryodhana’s) despondecny, Bhisma, in order to cheer him, roared like a lion, and then blowing his conch, made his side sound their conchs and kettle-drums, which made an uproar as a sign of victory. Then, having heard that great tumult, Arjuna and Sri Krsna the Lord of all lords, who was acting as the charioteer of Arjuna, sitting in their great chariot which was powerful enough to conquer the three worlds; blew their divine conchs Srimad Pancajanya and Devadatta. Then, both Yudhisthira and Bhima blew their respective conchs separately. That tumult rent asunder the hearts of your sons, led by Duryodhana. The sons of Dhrtarastra then thought, ‘Our cause is almost lost now itself.’ So said Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra who was longing for their victory. Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: Then, seeing the Kauravas, who were ready for battle, Arjuna, who had Hanuman, noted for his exploit of burning Lanka, as the emblem on his flag on his chariot, directed his charioteer Sri Krsna, the Supreme Lord-who is overcome by parental love for those who take shelter in Him who is the treasure-house of knowledge, power, lordship, energy, potency and splendour, whose sportive delight brings about the origin, sustentation and dissolution of the entire cosmos at His will, who is the Lord of the senses, who controls in all ways the senses inner and outer of all, superior and inferior — by saying, ‘Station my chariot in an appropriate place in order that I may see exactly my enemies who are eager for battle.

Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:

The most powerful commanders are being named now. Samjitinjayah means always victorious in battle. This applies to Drona and Bhishmadeva and all the warriors named herein. The son of Somadatta was known as Bhurishravas.

Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:

Sri Madhvacarya did not comment on this sloka.

Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:

Here Duryodhana by the word bhavan is qualifying Drona as well as three others while mentioning those who are powerful in his army. The adjective samitinjaya meaning always victorious in battle applies to these four being Drona, Bhisma, Karna and Krpa. Then he points out others who are almost as powerful as these four such as Asvatthana and others. Asvatthama is the son of Drona. Vikarna is the younger brother of Duryodhana, Bhurisrava is Saumadatti the son of Somadatta who was the son of Bahilika the cousin of Bhishma.

Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:

1.8 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.

Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:

1.2 — 1.9 Why this exhaustive counting? The reality of things is this:

Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:

bhavan bhismas ca karnas ca
krpas ca samitim-jayah
asvatthama vikarnas ca
saumadattis tathaiva ca

Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:

bhavān — your good self; bhīṣmaḥ — Grandfather Bhīṣma; ca — also; karṇaḥ — Karṇa; ca — and; kṛpaḥ — Kṛpa; ca — and; samitim-jayaḥ — always victorious in battle; aśvatthāmā — Aśvatthāmā; vikarṇaḥ — Vikarṇa; ca — as well as; saumadattiḥ — the son of Somadatta; tathā — as well as; eva — certainly; ca — also.