Shloka 14
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
कुरूणामहितो नित्य न च राजावबुध्यते । को हि नाम समानेषु राजसूदारकर्मसु,“तुम कौरवोंका सदा अहित करते हो; परंतु राजा दुर्योधन इस बातको नहीं समझते हैं। तुम मेरे गुणोंके प्रति द्वेष रखनेके कारण जिस प्रकार राजाओंकी मुझपर विरक्ति कराना चाहते हो, वैसा प्रयत्न तुम्हारे सिवा दूसरा कौन कर सकता है? इस समय युद्धका अवसर उपस्थित है और समान श्रेणीके उदारचरित राजा एकत्र हुए हैं; ऐसे अवसरपर आपसमें भेद (फूट) उत्पन्न करनेकी इच्छा रखकर कौन पुरुष अपने ही पक्षके योद्धाका इस प्रकार तेज और उत्साह नष्ट करेगा?
kurūṇām ahito nityaṁ na ca rājāvabudhyate | ko hi nāma samāneṣu rājasūdārakarmasu ||
Bhishma said: “You are continually acting against the welfare of the Kurus, yet King Duryodhana does not perceive it. For who else, when the occasion for war has arisen and noble kings of equal standing are assembled, would seek to create division and thereby sap the brilliance and ardour of a warrior on his own side?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma condemns internal sabotage: in a dharmic polity, one should not weaken one’s own side through envy and faction-making, especially at a critical moment like the onset of war. Ethical leadership requires clear perception and protection of collective welfare.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhishma rebukes a figure who is undermining the Kurus’ interests. He laments that Duryodhana fails to recognize this harm and highlights the perversity of trying to split allied kings and diminish a comrade’s morale when war is imminent.