Shloka 11
भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः
Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो युक्त तत्राहतुर्वच: । सर्वे तमनुवर्तन्ते ऋते विदुरमच्युत
na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo yuktaṃ tatrāhatur vacaḥ | sarve tam anuvartante ṛte viduram acyuta ||
ਅਚ੍ਯੁਤ! ਉੱਥੇ ਨਾ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ, ਨਾ ਦ੍ਰੋਣ—ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਯੋਗ ਬਚਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲਦਾ। ਵਿਦੁਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਦੁਰਯੋਧਨ ਦੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹੀ ਲੱਗ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ; ਠੀਕ ਗੱਲ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਅੰਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਰਣਤਾ ਚੁਣਦੇ ਹਨ।
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even revered authorities can fail to speak dharma when bound by loyalty, fear, or dependence; true righteousness may stand with a lone counselor like Vidura rather than with the majority.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and court deliberations, Kṛṣṇa criticizes the Kuru elders’ compromised counsel: Bhīṣma and Droṇa do not consistently voice what is proper, while most courtiers align themselves with Duryodhana; Vidura alone resists and speaks rightly.