Shloka 10
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
सम्बन्धकेन राजेन्द्र तौ तु वीर्यबलान्वयात् । आर्यवृत्तौ महेष्वासौ स्नेहपाशसितावुभौ
sambandhakena rājendra tau tu vīryabalānvayāt | āryavṛttau maheṣvāsau snehapāśasitāv ubhau ||
“O hari, dahil sa ugnayang dugong-kamag-anakan at pagkakampi, ang dalawang iyon ay puspos ng tapang at lakas. Sila’y mga dakilang mamamana, matuwid sa marangal na asal; at dahil sa pagkakadugtong nila sa mga Pāṇḍava, kapwa sila nakagapos nang mahigpit sa tali ng pag-ibig at pagkalinga.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights how kinship and affection can bind even powerful, virtuous warriors, shaping political choices and loyalties; ethical conduct (āryavṛtta) does not remove human attachment, but frames it within honorable behavior.
In the lead-up to war, Bhīṣma explains to the king that two notable warriors are both mighty and noble, yet their relationship with the Pāṇḍavas keeps them emotionally and politically tied to the Pāṇḍava side.