Shloka 10
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
एतच्छुत्वा तु राधेय: क्रोधादुत्फाल्य लोचने । उवाच भीष्म राधेयस्तुदन् वाग्भि: प्रतोदवत्
etac chrutvā tu rādheyaḥ krodhād utphālya locane | uvāca bhīṣma rādheyas tudan vāgbhiḥ pratodavat ||
Als Radheya (Karna) dies hörte, entbrannte er vor Zorn und starrte mit weit aufgerissenen Augen. Dann wandte sich Karna an Bhīṣma und peitschte ihn mit Worten wie mit einem Treibstachel—Rede nicht, um Wahrheit oder Versöhnung zu suchen, sondern um zu verletzen und zu reizen in der aufgeladenen Stunde vor dem Krieg.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: anger can turn words into weapons. In the Mahabharata’s moral landscape, harsh speech (even before physical battle) escalates conflict and clouds discernment, showing how inner passions can become instruments of harm.
Karna, having heard Bhishma’s preceding statement, reacts with visible fury—eyes widened—and then speaks to Bhishma in a stinging, goading manner. The scene signals rising tensions among the Kaurava leaders on the eve of war.