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 ||
भीष्म बोले—“मुझ पर ही अपना क्रोध उतारो। क्रुद्ध होकर तुम मेरा क्या कर लोगे? हे पवन! यद्यपि तुम स्वयं प्रभु-तुल्य प्रभावशाली हो, फिर भी मैं तुमसे नहीं डरता।”
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.