ते ययु: शरणं विप्रानूचुस्ते कान् जयामहे । इत्युक्तास्ते द्विजान् प्राहुर्जयतेह कपानिति
te yayuḥ śaraṇaṃ viprān ūcuś te kān jayāmahe | ity uktās te dvijān prāhur jayateha kapān iti ||
भीष्म उवाच—ते देवा विप्रान् शरणं ययुः, ऊचुश्च—“कान् नु वयं जयामहे?” इत्युक्तेषु तेषु द्विजेषु देवा ऊचुः—“अत्र ‘कप’ नाम दानवान् जयत।”
भीष्म उवाच
Even the mighty should seek refuge in and act under the guidance of dharmic, learned authority; victory becomes legitimate when pursued through proper counsel and alignment with righteous order.
The gods approach the Brahmins for protection and advice, asking whom they should defeat; the gods then specify that the target is the demons called the Kapas.