Shloka 29
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
नाहं जीवति गाड़ेये योत्स्ये राजन् कथंचन । हते भीष्मे तु योद्धास्मि सर्वरेव महारथै:,“अतः राजन! मैं भीष्मके जीते-जी किसी प्रकार युद्ध नहीं करूँगा; परंतु भीष्मके मारे जानेपर सम्पूर्ण महारथियोंके साथ टक्कर लूँगा”
nāhaṃ jīvati gāḍeye yotsye rājan kathaṃcana | hate bhīṣme tu yoddhāsmi sarvair eva mahārathaiḥ ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! ഗംഗാപുത്രനായ ഭീഷ്മൻ ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കെ ഞാൻ യാതൊരു വിധത്തിലും യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യുകയില്ല; എന്നാൽ ഭീഷ്മൻ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ ഞാൻ എല്ലാ മഹാരഥന്മാരോടും സമരത്തിൽ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടും।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s ethical restraint and loyalty: one may refuse combat out of reverence, obligation, or a binding vow, yet remain committed to duty once the moral constraint is removed. It frames warfare not as mere violence but as action governed by personal dharma and pledged conduct.
Bhīṣma addresses the king and declares a conditional stance toward battle: he will not fight as long as Bhīṣma is alive, but after Bhīṣma’s death he will fight fully, even against all the foremost champions (mahārathas). The statement signals both deference to Bhīṣma’s living authority and readiness for total engagement afterward.