Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.4.4 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 4, Shloka 4
अध्याय ४ — भीष्मेन कर्णोत्साहनम्
Bhīṣma’s Encouragement of Karṇa
मानहा भव शत्रूणां मित्राणां नन्दिवर्धन: । कौरवाणां भव गतिर्यथा विष्णुर्दिवौकसाम्
sañjaya uvāca | mānahā bhava śatrūṇāṁ mitrāṇāṁ nandivardhanaḥ | kauravāṇāṁ bhava gatir yathā viṣṇur divaukasām ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Werde der Zermalmer des Feindesstolzes und der Mehrer der Freude deiner Freunde. Wie Viṣṇu den Göttern Zuflucht und Stütze ist, so sei du den Kauravas verlässlicher Halt und leitende Stütze.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader or champion should simultaneously break the enemy’s arrogance and strengthen allies’ morale, becoming a dependable refuge for one’s side—illustrated through the analogy of Viṣṇu as the sustaining support of the gods.
Sañjaya reports an exhortation directed to a key warrior/leader on the Kaurava side: he is urged to act as the Kauravas’ mainstay in battle, just as Viṣṇu functions as the gods’ protector and support.
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