Shloka 40
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
विपरीतो महावीरयों गतसत्त्वोडल्पजीवन: । भीष्म: शान्तनवो नून॑ कर्तव्यं नावबुध्यते
sañjaya uvāca |
viparīto mahāvīryo gata-sattvo 'lpa-jīvanaḥ |
bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nūnaṁ kartavyaṁ nāvabudhyate ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Bhīṣma, putera Śāntanu yang perkasa, telah berpihak kepada pihak yang menentang; kekuatannya telah susut dan sisa hayatnya singkat. Namun tampaknya pasti bahawa dia tidak lagi memahami apa yang dituntut oleh dharma, oleh kewajipan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal allegiance and true dharma: even a renowned hero may be judged as failing in duty when loyalty to a side appears to override what is morally required.
Sañjaya reports a harsh assessment of Bhīṣma: despite his famed valor, he is portrayed as having sided with the opponents, weakened by age, nearing death, and seemingly not acting in accordance with what duty demands in the unfolding war.