Shloka 9
भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा
Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength
हन्यादेकरथेनैव देवानामपि वाहिनीम् । वपुष्मांस्तलघोषेण स्फोटयेदपि पर्वतान्
hanyād ekarathenaiva devānām api vāhinīm | vapuṣmāṁs talaghoṣeṇa sphoṭayed api parvatān ||
Bhīṣma said: “Single-handed, with only one chariot, he could even destroy the army of the gods. He is powerfully built and immense in body; with the thunder of his clapping he could even shatter mountains.” In context, this is not mere praise but a strategic and dharmic warning: when such force is present, leaders must weigh the cost in dharma of provoking war and the responsibility of choosing restraint over escalation.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary strength in a warrior becomes an ethical and political responsibility for rulers: recognizing such power should lead to prudent counsel, avoidance of reckless provocation, and careful consideration of dharma before choosing war.
Bhīṣma is describing a formidable figure’s martial capacity—able to annihilate even a divine host alone and to shatter mountains with the sound of clapping—using hyperbolic heroic imagery to emphasize the seriousness of the impending conflict and the need for wise decision-making.