Shloka 36
अथाब्रवीन्नरव्याप्र: प्रहसन्निव तान् नृपान् नैतानि वीरशय्यासु युक्तरूपाणि पार्थिवा:,तदनन्तर पुरुषसिंह भीष्मने हँसते हुए-से उन राजाओंसे कहा--'भूमिपालो! ये तकिये वीरशय्याके अनुरूप नहीं हैं!
athābravīn naravyāghraḥ prahasann iva tān nṛpān | naitāni vīraśayyāsu yukta-rūpāṇi pārthivāḥ ||
Lalu Bhīṣma, sang harimau di antara manusia, berkata kepada para raja itu seakan dengan senyum tipis: “Wahai para penguasa bumi, bantal-bantal ini tidak pantas bagi ranjang seorang pahlawan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of endurance and honor: a warrior should not seek soft comforts when facing battle or death. The remark critiques indulgence and calls rulers to a standard of fitting conduct in a heroic context.
Sañjaya narrates that a heroic figure (addressing assembled kings) speaks with a slight smile and dismisses the cushions as unsuitable for a ‘hero’s bed,’ implying that the situation demands readiness for hardship rather than comfort.