Shloka 11
The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification
मयि वै त्यज्यतां क्रोध: किं मे क्रुद्धः करिष्यसि । न ते बिभेमि पवन यद्यपि त्वं स्वयं प्रभु:
mayi vai tyajyatāṃ krodhaḥ kiṃ me kruddhaḥ kariṣyasi | na te bibhemi pavana yadyapi tvaṃ svayaṃ prabhuḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : « Déverse ta colère sur moi. Que peux-tu me faire, même si tu es enragé ? Ô Vent, bien que tu sois toi-même puissant et souverain en force, je ne te crains pas. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models fearlessness and moral steadiness: one who is grounded in inner resolve does not yield to intimidation, even by a powerful force. It also implies that anger should be restrained or redirected away from harming others, as wrath does not automatically confer moral authority.
Bhīṣma addresses Pavana (the Wind-god) directly, challenging him to vent his anger on Bhīṣma and declaring that even if Pavana is immensely powerful, Bhīṣma will not be frightened or coerced.