Shloka 4
कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter
यथा देवैर्महाराज ईश्वरादघिको वृत: । तथा भवानपि क्षिप्रं रुद्रस्येव पितामह:
yathā devair mahārāja īśvarād adhiko vṛtaḥ | tathā bhavān api kṣipraṁ rudrasyeva pitāmahaḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Wahai maharaja, sebagaimana para dewa dahulu memilih seorang yang lebih perkasa daripada Īśvara (Śiva) sendiri, demikian pula hendaknya engkau tanpa menunda memilih seorang panglima—sebagaimana Sang Kakek Agung (Bhīṣma) bagi Rudra.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the urgency and necessity of appointing capable leadership in crisis, legitimizing decisive command by invoking divine precedent and revered exemplars (the gods’ choice; Bhīṣma as ‘Pitāmaha’).
Duryodhana addresses the king and presses for swift selection/appointment of a supreme commander, comparing the desired choice to how the gods chose a superior leader and to Bhīṣma’s eminent status (‘Grandsire’) in relation to Rudra.