Shloka 7
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
पाण्डवै: सह राजेन्द्र तव सेनासु भारत | अग्निमारुतवद् राजन्नाह्यन्त: परस्परम्,भारत! राजेन्द्र! वे पाण्डवोंके साथ तुम्हारी सेनामें प्रवेश करके एक-दूसरेका आह्वान करते हुए अग्नि और वायुकी भाँति विचरेंगे
pāṇḍavaiḥ saha rājendra tava senāsu bhārata | agnimārutavad rājann āhvayantaḥ parasparam ||
Bhīṣma said: “O best of kings, O Bhārata—entering your armies together with the Pāṇḍavas, they will range about like fire and wind, challenging one another.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma underscores prudent kingship: a ruler must anticipate how quickly violence escalates once warriors engage. Like fire and wind, battle spreads beyond control; therefore, ethical governance requires timely restraint, negotiation, and prevention of fratricidal destruction.
Bhīṣma addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra, foretelling that when the Pāṇḍavas enter the Kaurava forces, both sides will move through the ranks challenging each other, with the speed and pervasiveness of fire and wind—an image of imminent, sweeping combat.