Shloka 9
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
रणे रणे5भिमानी च विमुखश्चापि दृश्यते । घृणी कर्ण: प्रमादी च तेन मे<र्थरथो मत:
raṇe raṇe ’bhimānī ca vimukhaś cāpi dṛśyate | ghṛṇī karṇaḥ pramādī ca tena me ’rdharatho mataḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Em batalha após batalha ele exibe grande orgulho, e no entanto também é visto voltando as costas ao combate. Karṇa é compassivo e, ao mesmo tempo, propenso a lapsos de discernimento; por isso, na minha avaliação, ele é apenas um ‘ardharatha’ — um guerreiro de categoria mediana.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights that martial worth is not measured by boastfulness alone: pride without steadfastness in danger, and compassion without disciplined judgment, can diminish a warrior’s effectiveness and reliability.
During the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhīṣma evaluates leading fighters. Here he gives his candid appraisal of Karṇa, noting repeated displays of arrogance alongside retreat, and concludes that Karṇa does not merit the highest warrior classification.