Shloka 19
Adhyāya 69: Strategic duels under Bhīṣma’s command
Virāṭa–Bhīṣma; Arjuna–Aśvatthāmā; Bhīma–Duryodhana; Abhimanyu–Lakṣmaṇa
“इसलिये “ये मनुष्य हैं,, ऐसा समझकर इन्द्र आदि सम्पूर्ण देवताओं तथा संसारके मनुष्योंको अमित पराक्रमी भगवान् वासुदेवकी अवहेलना नहीं करनी चाहिये ।। यश्न मानुषमात्रोडयमिति ब्रूयात् स मन्दधी: । हृषीकेशमवज्ञानात् तमाहुः पुरुषाधमम्,“जो सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियोंके स्वामी इन भगवान् वासुदेवको केवल मनुष्य कहता है, वह मूर्ख है। भगवान्की अवहेलना करनेके कारण उसे नराधम कहा गया है
tasmād ye manuṣyā iti matvā indra-prabhṛtayaḥ sarve devāḥ saṃsārasya ca manuṣyā amita-parākramam bhagavantaṃ vāsudevaṃ nāvamantavyam | yaḥ mānuṣa-mātro ’yam iti brūyāt sa manda-dhīḥ | hṛṣīkeśam avajñānāt tam āhuḥ puruṣādhamam ||
Therefore, thinking, “He is only a man,” neither Indra and the other gods nor the people of the world should ever slight the Lord Vāsudeva of immeasurable prowess. Whoever says, “He is merely a human being,” is dull-witted; for by scorning Hṛṣīkeśa, Lord of the senses, he is called the lowest among men. The ethical point is clear: contempt born of superficial judgment becomes a moral failing when directed toward the truly divine and supremely worthy.
भीष्म उवाच