Shloka 13
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
पृथगक्षौहिणी भ्यां तावुभी संयति दारुणौ । सम्बन्धिभावं रक्षन्ती महत् कर्म करिष्यत:
pṛthag akṣauhiṇībhyāṃ tāv ubhī saṃyati dāruṇau | sambandhibhāvaṃ rakṣantī mahat karma kariṣyataḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ces deux-là sont, l’un comme l’autre, terriblement redoutables au combat. Aussi, tout en préservant le lien de parenté, chacun accomplira de grands exploits de vaillance, chacun soutenu par une akṣauhiṇī (division complète d’armée) distincte.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid inevitable conflict, one should strive to preserve rightful bonds and ethical restraints; valor is not license for cruelty, and duty in war is framed by dharma and relationship.
Bhīṣma describes two warriors as exceptionally fearsome in combat and predicts that, while maintaining the proprieties of kinship, they will each fight with their own separate full army division and accomplish great martial feats.