Shloka 38
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
युद्धयस्व समरे पार्थ येन विस्पर्थसे सह | द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां विनिर्मुक्तमस्माद् युद्धात् सुदुर्मते
yudhyasva samare pārtha yena visparthase saha | drakṣyāmi tvāṁ vinirmuktam asmād yuddhāt sudurmate durmate ||
దుర్మతీ! నీవు ఎప్పుడూ పోటీ పడే ఆ అర్జునునితో సమరభూమిలో యుద్ధం చేయి. ఈ యుద్ధం నుంచి నీవు ఎలా తప్పించుకుంటావో నేను చూస్తాను.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ethic of facing one’s appointed conflict without evasion: rivalry and honor culminate in direct confrontation, and moral weakness (durmati) is censured when it seeks escape from a justly undertaken battle.
Bhīṣma challenges the addressed warrior (called Pārtha) to fight Arjuna—his long-standing rival—declaring that he will witness whether the opponent can avoid or slip free from the impending war, while rebuking him as misguided (durmati).