Shloka 123
The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification
प्राणमात्रबला ये वै नैव ते बलिनो मता: । “मैं बलमें तुमसे बहुत बढ़-चढ़कर हूँ; अतः मुझे तुमसे भय नहीं मानना चाहिये। जो बुद्धिके बली होते हैं
prāṇamātrabalā ye vai naiva te balino matāḥ |
ビーシュマは教える。「力がただ命を保つほどのもの—すなわち肉体の力にすぎぬ者—は、真に強いとは見なされない。真の強さは、理解と分別の力によって量られる。ゆえに、ただ身体の威力のみに圧されてはならず、またそれを誇って無畏の根拠としてはならぬ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Physical power alone is not true strength; genuine strength lies in buddhi—discernment, judgment, and self-control—so one should value wisdom over mere bodily might.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing the listener on ethical governance and conduct, emphasizing that intimidation or pride based on physical force is misguided because real superiority is grounded in intelligence and right understanding.