Shloka 4
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
परुष: कत्थनो नीच: कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्न मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छित:
paruṣaḥ katthano nīcaḥ karṇo vaikartanas tava | mantrī netā ca bandhuś ca mānī cātyantam ucchritaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Teu Karna, Vaikartana, filho do cocheiro, é áspero, jactancioso e vil em sua conduta. Ainda assim, tornou-se teu ministro, teu líder e teu parente; e, orgulhoso, elevou-se sobremaneira sob o teu amparo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that elevating a harsh, boastful, and ethically compromised person to positions of counsel and leadership—especially due to favoritism—corrupts governance and inflames conflict; pride amplified by patronage becomes socially and politically dangerous.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhishma addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana) and criticizes Karna’s character and influence, noting that Karna has become Duryodhana’s trusted minister/leader/kinsman and has grown overly exalted through Duryodhana’s support.