Shloka 27
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एतच्छुत्वा तु भीष्मस्य राज्ञां दध्वंसिरे तदा । काज्चनाड्रदिन: पीना भुजाश्षन्दनरूषिता:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! भीष्मकी यह बात सुनकर पाण्डवोंके पुरातन बल-पराक्रमको प्रत्यक्ष देखनेकी भाँति स्मरण करके राजाओंकी सुवर्णमय भुजबंदोंसे विभूषित चन्दनचर्चित स्थूल भुजाएँ एवं मन भी आवेगयुक्त होकर शिथिल हो गये
vaiśampāyana uvāca | etac chrutvā tu bhīṣmasya rājñāṁ dadhvaṁsire tadā | kāñcanāṅgadinaḥ pīnā bhujāś candana-rūṣitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh Janamejaya, al oír las palabras de Bhishma, los reyes reunidos perdieron al instante la compostura. Sus robustos brazos—adornados con brazaletes de oro y ungidos con sándalo—se aflojaron, pues sus corazones fueron sacudidos por la fuerza de lo recordado y presentido.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma’s counsel carries such moral and strategic weight that it strips away bravado: true discernment in dharma and war makes even powerful rulers confront consequences, revealing that strength without right judgment quickly collapses.
After Bhīṣma speaks, the kings in the assembly are visibly shaken—so affected that their strong, ornamented arms become slack—signaling fear, doubt, or sobering realization about the coming conflict and its outcomes.