Shloka 11
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)
न चैषां पुरुषा: केचिदायुधानि गदा: शरान् | विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव
na caiṣāṃ puruṣāḥ kecid āyudhāni gadāḥ śarān | viṣahanti sadā kartuṃ adhijyāny api kaurava, bālair api bhavantas taiḥ sarva eva viśeṣitāḥ |
ビーシュマは言った。「おお、カウラヴァよ。彼らの武器――棍棒（ガダー）と矢――の打撃に耐えられる者は誰もいない。さらに、彼らの弓に弦を張ることすらできず、戦場でその重い棍棒を持ち上げることもできず、矢を正しく用いることもできない。まことに、幼き頃から彼らは汝らすべてを凌駕していた――速さ、的を射抜く技、食らい飲む力、そして塵にまみれて遊ぶことに至るまで――その卓越をもって自らを際立たせたのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges sober realism over pride: true leadership in dharma requires accurately assessing strength and capability, not dismissing superior opponents. Ethical counsel here is to avoid reckless war born from arrogance and to heed experienced guidance.
In Udyoga Parva, as war approaches, Bhishma addresses the Kaurava side (notably Duryodhana) and emphasizes the extraordinary martial capacity of the rival heroes: others cannot even string their bows or wield their heavy maces, and their excellence was evident from childhood.