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 |
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Kaurava, tiada seorang pun mampu menahan hentaman senjata mereka—gada dan anak panah. Bahkan, tiada siapa dapat memasang tali pada busur mereka, atau mengangkat gada mereka yang berat di medan perang, ataupun menggunakan anak panah mereka dengan sempurna. Sesungguhnya, sejak zaman kanak-kanak lagi mereka telah mengatasi kamu semua—dalam kepantasan, ketepatan mengenai sasaran, dalam makan dan minum, bahkan dalam permainan bergelumang debu—lalu terserlah sebagai yang luar biasa.”
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.