Shloka 19
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ७२: सैन्यगुणवर्णनम्, व्यूहरक्षा, दैव-पुरुषकारचिन्ता
वयं हि त्वां समाश्रित्य भीष्म॑ं चैव पितामहम् । देवानपि रणे जेतु प्रार्थयामो न संशय:,“हमलोग आप तथा पितामह भीष्मकी शरण लेकर देवताओंको भी समरभूमिमें जीतनेकी अभिलाषा रखते हैं, इसमें संशय नहीं है। फिर जो बल और पराक्रममें हीन हैं, उन पाण्डवोंको जीतना कौन बड़ी बात है। आपका कल्याण हो। आप ऐसा प्रयत्न करें जिससे पाण्डव मारे जायँ
vayaṁ hi tvāṁ samāśritya bhīṣmaṁ caiva pitāmaham | devān api raṇe jetuṁ prārthayāmo na saṁśayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Relying on you, and on Bhīṣma the grandsire, we confidently aspire to conquer even the gods in battle—of this there is no doubt. How then could it be any great feat to defeat the Pāṇḍavas, who are inferior in strength and prowess? May you be well; strive in such a way that the Pāṇḍavas are slain.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychology of war: confidence built on dependence upon powerful leaders can slide into arrogance and moral blindness, culminating in the wish for total annihilation of kin. It implicitly contrasts martial ambition with the ethical weight of desiring the death of one’s relatives.
Sañjaya reports a Kaurava-side sentiment: trusting in their great warriors—especially Bhīṣma and the addressed commander—they believe they could defeat even divine opponents, and therefore expect an easy victory over the Pāṇḍavas, urging decisive effort to kill them.