Shloka 43
भीष्मस्य सेनापत्यप्रतिज्ञा तथा रथसंख्यावर्णनम् | Bhishma Accepts Command and Enumerates Kaurava Strength
पश्य त्वं मां रणे राजन् कुर्वाणं कर्म दारुणम् । यस्य वीर्य समासाद्य मन्यसे विजयं युधि,तमहं पातयिष्यामि रथात् तव पितामहम् । “राजन! तुम संग्राममें मुझे भयानक कर्म करते हुए देखना। जिसके पराक्रमका भरोसा करके तुम युद्धमें अपनी विजय हुई मानते हो, तुम्हारे उस पितामहको मैं रथसे मार गिराऊँगा
paśya tvaṁ māṁ raṇe rājan kurvāṇaṁ karma dāruṇam | yasya vīrya-samāsādya manyase vijayaṁ yudhi, tam ahaṁ pātayiṣyāmi rathāt tava pitāmaham ||
संजय बोले—राजन्, रण में मुझे भयानक कर्म करते हुए देखो। जिसके पराक्रम के भरोसे तुम युद्ध में विजय मानते हो, उसी तुम्हारे पितामह को मैं रथ से गिरा दूँगा।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of resolute action in war: confidence is challenged by a counter-claim of superior prowess. Ethically, it underscores how reliance on a single champion can breed overconfidence, while the speaker frames his intent as a decisive, even dreadful, act within the harsh logic of battlefield duty.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s bold declaration to the king: in the coming battle he will perform a terrifying feat—toppling the king’s revered grandsire (understood in context as Bhīṣma) from his chariot—thereby undermining the very pillar of strength on which the king expects victory.