Shloka 39
भीष्मस्य भीमसेन-निरोधः
Bhīṣma checks Bhīmasena; matched engagements intensify
यश्च हेतुरवध्यत्वे तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् । तं शृुणुष्व महाबाहो मम कीर्तयतः प्रभो,महाबाहो! प्रभो! अनायास ही महान् कर्म करनेवाले पाण्डवोंके अवध्य होनेमें जो हेतु है, उसे बताता हूँ, सुनो
yaś ca hetur avadhyatve teṣām akliṣṭa-karmaṇām | taṃ śṛṇuṣva mahābāho mama kīrtayataḥ prabho ||
ಓ ಮಹಾಬಾಹೋ ಪ್ರಭು! ಕ್ಲೇಶವೂ ಕಲ್ಮಷವೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡ ಆ ಪಾಂಡವರು ಅವಧ್ಯರಾಗಿರುವ ಕಾರಣವನ್ನು ನಾನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಕೇಳು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘invincibility’ as having a discernible cause: the Pāṇḍavas’ akliṣṭa-karma—actions aligned with dharma and free from degrading motive—becomes a moral-spiritual ground for protection, suggesting that ethical integrity can function as a form of strength in the world.
Bhīṣma addresses a mighty-armed lord (contextually a leading Kuru figure) and announces that he will explain why the Pāṇḍavas are ‘avadhya’ (not to be slain). This verse serves as a transition into Bhīṣma’s forthcoming rationale for their protected status.