Shloka 11
भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय
अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रिय: । स कथं पाण्डवान् युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान्,तात! भीष्म युद्धमें अभिमान रखनेवाले तथा सदा युद्धको प्रिय माननेवाले हैं; तथापि पाण्डवोंपर दया रखनेके कारण वे उन सबको संग्राममें कैसे जीत सकेंगे?
abhimānī raṇe bhīṣmo nityaṃ cāpi raṇapriyaḥ | sa kathaṃ pāṇḍavān yuddhe jeṣyate tāta saṅgatān ||
Wahai anakku! Bhishma memang angkuh di medan laga dan selalu mencintai perang; namun karena hatinya berbelas kasih kepada para Pandawa, bagaimana mungkin ia dapat mengalahkan mereka ketika mereka berdiri bersatu dalam pertempuran?
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a warrior famed for valor may be restrained by personal affection and compassion; inner loyalties can limit outward power, raising an ethical tension between duty in war and tenderness toward kin.
Karna comments on Bhishma’s nature: though Bhishma is a battle-loving, proud fighter, Karna doubts he can truly defeat the Pandavas because Bhishma is emotionally inclined toward them, especially when they fight together.