Shloka 14
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
कुरूणामहितो नित्य न च राजावबुध्यते । को हि नाम समानेषु राजसूदारकर्मसु
kurūṇām ahito nityaṁ na ca rājāvabudhyate | ko hi nāma samāneṣu rājasūdārakarmasu ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Tu ages continuamente contra o bem dos Kurus, e ainda assim o rei Duryodhana não o percebe. Pois quem mais, quando a ocasião da guerra se apresenta e reis nobres de igual estirpe se reúnem, buscaria criar divisão e, assim, esvair o brilho e o ardor de um guerreiro do próprio lado?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma condemns internal sabotage: in a dharmic polity, one should not weaken one’s own side through envy and faction-making, especially at a critical moment like the onset of war. Ethical leadership requires clear perception and protection of collective welfare.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhishma rebukes a figure who is undermining the Kurus’ interests. He laments that Duryodhana fails to recognize this harm and highlights the perversity of trying to split allied kings and diminish a comrade’s morale when war is imminent.