Shloka 78
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
समेता विबुधा भग्नास्तरसा समरे मया | पर्वताश्चासकृत् क्षिप्ता: सवना: सवनौकस:,मेरे वेगसे सब देवता युद्धका मैदान छोड़कर एक साथ ही भाग खड़े हुए थे। वन एवं वनवासियोंसहित कितने ही पर्वत, मैंने बारंबार तुमलोगोंपर चलाये थे। तुम्हारे सिरपर भी सुदृढ़ पाषाण और शिखरोंसहित बहुत-से पर्वत मैंने फोड़ डाले थे; किंतु इस समय मैं क्या कर सकता हूँ; क्योंकि कालका उललड्घण करना बहुत कठिन है
sametā vibudhā bhagnās tarasā samare mayā | parvatāś cāsakṛt kṣiptāḥ savanāḥ savanaukasaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “In the press of battle, I shattered the assembled gods and they fled in a body. Again and again I hurled mountains—along with their forests and the beings who dwelt in them—against you. I even split many mountains above your heads, with their hard rocks and lofty peaks. Yet what can I do now? To overstep the decree of Time is exceedingly difficult.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary strength and past victories cannot override Kāla (Time/destiny). The verse underscores the ethical humility that power has limits, and that one must recognize the inevitability of time’s decree.
Bhishma recalls his immense martial prowess—routing even the gods and hurling mountains—then contrasts it with his present helplessness, emphasizing that the course set by Time cannot be easily transgressed.