Shloka 21
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
न त्वेवोत्सादनीया मे पाण्डो: पुत्रा जनाधिप । तस्माद् योधान् हनिष्यामि प्रयोगेणायुतं सदा
na tvevotsādanīyā me pāṇḍoḥ putrā janādhipa | tasmād yodhān haniṣyāmi prayogeṇāyutaṃ sadā ||
কিন্তু হে জনাধিপ! পাণ্ডুর পুত্রদের আমি বিনাশ করব না। অতএব অস্ত্রের সংযত প্রয়োগে আমি যুদ্ধে সর্বদা দশ হাজার যোদ্ধাকে বধ করে যাব।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, Bhishma articulates a self-imposed ethical boundary: he will fight and cause heavy losses, yet refuses to pursue the total extermination of Pandu’s sons. The verse highlights restraint, proportionality, and the tension between martial duty and personal vows/values.
Bhishma addresses the king (likely Dhritarashtra) and declares his intention for the coming conflict: he will not kill the Pandavas themselves, but will use his weapons to destroy large numbers of their supporting warriors daily, thereby weakening their forces while sparing the principal targets.