Shloka 11
Kṛṣṇasya Karṇam Prati Sāntvavacana
Kṛṣṇa’s Conciliatory Address to Karṇa
अस्ति मे बलमित्येव सहसा त्वं तितीर्षसि । सग्राहनक्रमकरं गज्रावेगमिवोष्णगे
asti me balam ity eva sahasā tvaṁ titīrṣasi | sa-grāha-nakra-makaraṁ gaṅgā-vegam ivōṣṇage ||
‘ମୋର ବଳ ଅଛି’—ଏହି ଭାବନାରେ ତୁମେ ସହସା ପାର ହେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛ। ବର୍ଷାକାଳରେ ଘଡ଼ିଆଳ, ମଗର ଓ ମକରରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଗଙ୍ଗାର ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ ସ୍ରୋତକୁ କେବଳ ଦୁଇ ଭୁଜାବଳରେ ସୁଇମି ପାର କରିବାକୁ ଯେପରି ଜଣେ ମୂର୍ଖ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ, ସେହିପରି ନିଜ ବଳରେ ଭରସା କରି ତୁମେ ପାଣ୍ଡବ-ସେନାକୁ ହଠାତ୍ ଲଂଘିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma warns against overconfidence and impulsive action: mere belief in one’s strength is not enough when facing overwhelming danger. Ethical leadership requires sober assessment, restraint, and respect for realities rather than pride-driven haste.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhīṣma addresses a warrior’s rash intention to break through the Pāṇḍava forces. He illustrates the folly with a vivid simile: trying to swim the monsoon-swollen Gaṅgā filled with deadly aquatic beasts—an act likely to end in ruin.