Shloka 78
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
समेता विबुधा भग्नास्तरसा समरे मया | पर्वताश्चासकृत् क्षिप्ता: सवना: सवनौकस:
sametā vibudhā bhagnās tarasā samare mayā | parvatāś cāsakṛt kṣiptāḥ savanāḥ savanaukasaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「戦のただ中、集いし神々を我が手で打ち砕き、彼らはひと塊となって逃げ去った。幾度となく、森とそこに住まう者どもを伴う山々を、おまえたちに向けて投げつけた。おまえたちの頭上で、堅き岩とそびえる峰を備えた多くの山をも裂き砕いた。だが今、我に何ができようか。時（カーラ）の定めを踏み越えることは、まことに難しいのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary strength and past victories cannot override Kāla (Time/destiny). The verse underscores the ethical humility that power has limits, and that one must recognize the inevitability of time’s decree.
Bhishma recalls his immense martial prowess—routing even the gods and hurling mountains—then contrasts it with his present helplessness, emphasizing that the course set by Time cannot be easily transgressed.