Shloka 7
शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament
प्रायः सभी देशोंमें महान् धैर्यशशाली, महाबली एवं शूरवीर पैदा होते हैं। उन सबका उल्लेख अधिकतर किया जा चुका है। अब तुम मुझसे उनके लक्षण सुनो ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
prāyaḥ sarveṣu deśeṣu mahān dhairyaśālī mahābalī ca śūravīraś ca jāyante | teṣāṃ sarveṣām ullekho bahuśaḥ kṛtaḥ | idānīṃ teṣāṃ lakṣaṇāni mattaḥ śṛṇu ||
siṃhaśārdūlavāg-netrāḥ siṃhaśārdūlagāminaḥ |
pārāvatakulijñākṣāḥ sarve śūrāḥ pramāthinaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “In almost every land there arise men of great steadiness, immense strength, and heroic valor; most of them have already been spoken of. Now listen from me to their distinguishing marks. Those whose speech, gaze, and bearing resemble lions and tigers, and whose eyes are keen and bright like those of pigeons and sparrows—such men are all true warriors, capable of crushing and churning the enemy’s ranks.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that genuine heroism has observable traits—steadfastness, power, and a disciplined presence expressed through speech, gaze, and gait—by which a warrior can be recognized as capable of overpowering enemy forces.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira. Here he transitions from having mentioned many notable heroes to describing the general characteristics by which such formidable warriors are identified.