Shloka 11
अध्याय १६९ — भीष्मस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रशंसा तथा शिखण्डिविषये नियमः
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Forces and His Constraint Regarding Śikhaṇḍin
कारणं प्राप्य तु नरा: सर्व एव महाभुजा: । शूरा वा कातरा वापि भवन्ति कुरुपुड्व,कुरुश्रेष्ठ॒ कोई कारण पाकर प्रायः सभी महाबाहु मानव शूर अथवा कायर हो जाते हैं
kāraṇaṁ prāpya tu narāḥ sarva eva mahābhujāḥ | śūrā vā kātarā vāpi bhavanti kuru-puṅgava ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O toro sa angkan ng Kuru, kapag sumapit ang isang sanhi na nagpapasya, ang mga tao—oo, lahat, kahit ang may malalakas na bisig—ay nahahayag na alinman sa matapang o duwag. Ang pagkakataon at layon ang siyang nagpapalabas ng tapang o kaduwagan, at nagbubunyag ng panloob na pasya sa oras ng pagsubok.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Courage and cowardice are often not fixed labels; they manifest depending on the cause or circumstance that confronts a person. The verse highlights how motive, pressure, and context can draw out either heroism or fear even in those considered strong.
Bhīṣma is addressing a leading Kuru (kuru-puṅgava) and offering a reflective observation about warriors and human behavior, framing how people’s conduct in crisis—especially in the lead-up to conflict—depends on the immediate reasons and conditions they face.