Shloka 16
“यदि पाण्डव धर्मको त्यागकर युद्ध ही करना चाहते हैं तो इन कुरुश्रेष्ठ वीरोंसे भिड़नेपर मेरी बात याद करेंगे” ।। भीष्म उवाच कि नु राधेय वाचा ते कर्म तत् स्मर्तुमहसि । एक एव यदा पार्थ: षड्रथाञ्जितवान् युधि,भीष्मजी बोले--राधानन्दन! तू जो इस प्रकार बढ़-बढ़कर बातें बनाता है, इससे क्या होगा? तुझे पार्थका वह पराक्रम याद करना चाहिये, जब कि विराटनगरके युद्धमें उन्होंने अकेले ही सम्पूर्ण सेनासहित छ: अतिरथियोंकोी जीत लिया था
bhīṣma uvāca | kiṃ nu rādhēya vācā te karma tat smartum arhasi | eka eva yadā pārthaḥ ṣaḍrathān jitavān yudhi ||
Bhishma said: “O son of Radha (Karna), what will be gained by your boastful words? You ought to remember that deed of Partha (Arjuna): how, in battle, he alone defeated six great chariot-warriors.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches restraint and realism: empty boasting is ethically and strategically hollow; one should weigh decisions—especially war—by recalling demonstrated capability and likely consequences.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhishma addresses Karna, rebuking his swagger and reminding him of Arjuna’s proven prowess—single-handedly defeating six major chariot-warriors—so that Karna (and the Kaurava side) does not underestimate the Pandavas.