The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification
पश्यमानस्तदा55त्मानमसमं मातरिश्वना । उस समय सेमलने वायुके द्वारा जो कुछ किया जानेवाला था, उसपर मन-ही-मन विचार करके तथा अपने आपको वायुके समान बलवान् न देखकर सोचा--
paśyamānas tadātmānam asamaṃ mātariśvanā |
Bhishma dit : «Alors, méditant en lui-même sur ce que le Vent (Mātariśvan) allait accomplir, et se voyant d’une force inégale à cette puissance redoutable, il se dit en son for intérieur…».
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights prudent self-knowledge: before acting, one should realistically assess one’s own capacity and the power of opposing forces, and let that assessment guide ethical decision-making rather than pride.
In Bhishma’s narration, a figure anticipates an action to be carried out by the Wind (Mātariśvan/Vāyu). Observing that he is not equal to the Wind in strength, he deliberates internally and prepares to respond accordingly.