Chapter1- Ślokā 10
aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam |
paryāptaṃ tvidam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam || 10 ||
(1.10)
tat- (tasmāt: due to the reasons mentioned in earlier ślokas) hence; asmākaṃ balaṃ- our army; bhīṣmābhirakṣitam- under Bhīṣma's protection; aparyāptaṃ- is not competent enough to gain victory over the Pāṇḍava army; idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ tu- but this Pāṇḍava army; bhīmābhirakṣitam- under Bhīma's protection; paryāptaṃ- is capable of defeating us;
Purport
In this śloka, Duryodhana summarises his speech from the previous seven ślokas and draws its conclusion.
Duryodhana said, “Hence, our war force marshalled by Bhīṣma is inadequate, while adequate is their force, marshalled by Bhīma.”
Duryodhana's words reflect his weak state of mind.
bhīṣmābhirakṣitam asmākaṃ balaṃ aparyāptaṃ Under the leadership and protection of Bhīṣma, who is famed for his inclination towards Kṛṣṇa and the Pāṇḍavas, our armed force is not competent enough to win over the Pāṇḍava army.
bhīmābhirakṣitam eteṣāṃ idam balaṃ tu paryāptaṃ Under the protection of Bhīma who is strong, ruthless and who has pledged to kill all the Kauravas, the Pāṇḍava army is competent enough to defeat us.
This śloka is interpreted by some as 'Duryodhana’s eleven akṣohini army was mightier and limitless compared to the seven akṣohini limited army of pāṇḍavas'. This interpretation has to bear with the below flaws:
1)Misinterpretation of aparyāptaṃ (aparimitam) as 'limitless' instead of 'not enough' and paryāptaṃ as 'limited' instead of 'enough'. 2)vyavahitānvayam - misgrouping of 'not competent enough' with 'the Kaurava army' and 'competent enough' with 'the pāṇḍava army'. 3)pāṭhabhēda - a different rendering which alters the meaning.
Since this interpretation doesn't fit into either the earlier context or the context established in the later ślokas and also since it has the above listed flaws, it is to be rejected.