Shloka 11
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava-Alliance Warriors (Śikhaṇḍin, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and Allied Kings)
न चैषां पुरुषा: केचिदायुधानि गदा: शरान् | विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव,बालैरपि भवन्तस्तै: सर्व एव विशेषिता: । कुरुनन्दन! इनके आयुधों, गदाओं और बाणोंका आघात कोई भी नहीं सह सकते हैं। इसके सिवा न तो कोई इनके धनुषपर प्रत्यंचा ही चढ़ा पाते हैं, न युद्धमें इनकी भारी गदाको ही उठा सकते हैं और न इनके बाणोंका ही प्रयोग कर सकते हैं। वेगसे चलने, लक्ष्य-भेद करने, खाने-पीने तथा धूलि-क्रीड़ा करने आदिमें उन सबने बाल्यावस्थामें भी तुम्हें पराजित कर दिया था
na caiṣāṃ puruṣāḥ kecid āyudhāni gadāḥ śarān | viṣahanti sadā kartuṃ adhijyāny api kaurava, bālair api bhavantas taiḥ sarva eva viśeṣitāḥ |
Bhishma disse: “Ó Kaurava, nenhum homem consegue suportar os golpes de suas armas — maças e flechas. Além disso, ninguém sequer é capaz de encordoar seus arcos, nem de erguer em batalha suas pesadas maças, nem de empregar devidamente suas flechas. De fato, ainda na infância eles já vos superavam a todos — na velocidade, em acertar o alvo, no comer e beber, e até nas brincadeiras na poeira — distinguindo-se como extraordinários.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges sober realism over pride: true leadership in dharma requires accurately assessing strength and capability, not dismissing superior opponents. Ethical counsel here is to avoid reckless war born from arrogance and to heed experienced guidance.
In Udyoga Parva, as war approaches, Bhishma addresses the Kaurava side (notably Duryodhana) and emphasizes the extraordinary martial capacity of the rival heroes: others cannot even string their bows or wield their heavy maces, and their excellence was evident from childhood.