Shloka 19
Rukmī’s Offer of Aid and Arjuna’s Refusal (रुक्मिप्रस्तावः—अर्जुनप्रत्याख्यानम्)
स हि वेद महाबुद्!िर्दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्यनेकश: । नतुमां विवृतो युद्धे जातु युध्येत पाण्डव:,महाबुद्धिमान् पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुन अनेक दिव्यास्त्रोंका ज्ञान रखते हैं; परंतु वे मेरे सामने आकर प्रकट रूपमें कभी युद्ध नहीं कर सकते
sa hi veda mahābuddhir divyāny astrāṇy anekaśaḥ | na tu māṃ vivṛto yuddhe jātu yudhyeta pāṇḍavaḥ ||
อรชุน โอรสแห่งปาณฑุ ผู้มีปัญญายิ่ง รู้ศัสตราวุธทิพย์นานาประการเป็นอันมาก; แต่ในสนามรบ เขาจะไม่ยืนเปิดเผยต่อหน้าข้าแล้วเข้าต่อสู้กับข้าเป็นอันขาด।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even supreme skill and possession of divine weapons are checked by dharma and personal bonds: Arjuna’s reverence and moral hesitation toward an elder like Bhīṣma limits how he can engage, showing that ethical constraints can outweigh sheer martial capability.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma assesses Arjuna’s prowess—acknowledging his mastery of many celestial weapons—yet asserts that Arjuna will not confront him directly in open battle, implying Arjuna’s reluctance to strike an elder and foreshadowing the need for indirect strategy.