Shloka 20
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ७२: सैन्यगुणवर्णनम्, व्यूहरक्षा, दैव-पुरुषकारचिन्ता
किमु पाण्डुसुतान् युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान् । स तथा कुरु भद्रें ते यथा वध्यन्ति पाण्डवा:,“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
sañjaya uvāca | kimu pāṇḍusutān yuddhe hīnavīryaparākramān | sa tathā kuru bhadre te yathā vadhyanti pāṇḍavāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “How much more so (is victory assured) in battle against the sons of Pāṇḍu, who are inferior in strength and valor? Therefore, for your welfare, act in such a way that the Pāṇḍavas may be slain.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates war-time rhetoric that belittles the opponent to spur decisive action. Ethically, it highlights how pride and contempt can distort judgment in conflict, pushing leaders toward the extreme aim of annihilating kin rather than seeking restraint or reconciliation.
Within the Bhīṣma Parva war setting, Sañjaya reports a statement urging a commander to act so that the Pāṇḍavas are killed, claiming they are inferior in strength and valor—an attempt to encourage aggressive strategy and confidence on the Kaurava side.