Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 3
देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically
यस्य सूर्यसमा: पठच सपत्ना: स्यु: प्रहारिण: । कथमभ्युदये तेषां न प्रमुह्देत पण्डित:
yasya sūrya-samāḥ pañca sapatnāḥ syuḥ prahāriṇaḥ | katham abhyudaye teṣāṃ na pramuhyet paṇḍitaḥ ||
もし一人の男に、太陽のごとく輝き、狙うものを打ち倒す力を備えた五人の宿敵があり、その敵どもが権勢と幸運を増しつつあるなら——そのような折に、たとえ賢者であっても、どうして全く惑わずにいられようか。これは、恐るべき敵の伸長が堅固な判断さえ揺るがし得ることを示し、政と戦の圧力のただ中でこそ警戒と自制を求める言葉である。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even wisdom can be shaken when powerful, aggressive rivals gain ascendancy; therefore one should anticipate psychological disturbance in crisis and respond with heightened vigilance, restraint, and strategic clarity.
Bhishma offers a reflective maxim about the destabilizing effect of formidable enemies rising in power, framing the emotional and strategic pressure that accompanies hostile ascendancy in a royal/war context.