Shloka 11
Amba’s Disclosure of Prior Choice (Śālva) and Appeal to Bhīṣma — Chapter 171
नरेश्वर! देवराज इन्द्रके समान तेजस्वी किरीटधारी वीरवर अर्जुनके द्वारा सुरक्षित हुई युधिष्ठिरकी भयंकर सेनाका ये उपर्युक्त वीर समरांगणमें संचालन करेंगे ।। तैरहं समरे वीर मायाविद्धिर्जयैषिभि: | योत्स्यामि जयमाकाडृक्षन्नथवा निधनं रणे,वीर! मैं तुम्हारी ओरसे रणभूमिमें उन मायावेत्ता और विजयाभिलाषी पाण्डववीरोंके साथ अपनी विजय अथवा मृत्युकी आकांक्षा लेकर युद्ध करूँगा
nareśvara! devarāja indrake samāna tejasvī kirīṭadhārī vīravara arjunena surakṣitā yudhiṣṭhirasya bhayaṅkarā senāyā ete uparyuktā vīrāḥ samarāṅgaṇe sañcālanaṃ kariṣyanti || tair ahaṃ samare vīrā māyāviddhir jayaiṣibhiḥ | yotsyāmi jayam ākāṅkṣann athavā nidhanaṃ raṇe ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Hari ng mga tao, ang mga bayani na nabanggit sa itaas ang mag-aayos at magpapakilos sa kakila-kilabot na hukbo ni Yudhiṣṭhira sa larangan—hukbong pinangangalagaan ni Arjuna, ang bayani na may diyadema, na ang ningning ay kaagapay ng kay Indra, hari ng mga diyos. At ako naman, sa aking bahagi, ay lalaban sa digmaang ito laban sa mga kampeon ng Pāṇḍava—mga bihasa sa pakana at uhaw sa tagumpay—na hinahangad ang alinman sa pananaig o kamatayan sa labanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a Kshatriya ideal of resolve: a warrior-leader commits to battle with full acceptance of outcomes—victory or death—while recognizing the opposing side’s strength and organization. It highlights duty-bound courage, disciplined leadership, and the ethical seriousness of war rather than mere aggression.
Bhishma addresses the king (Duryodhana) and describes how the Pandava side—especially Yudhishthira’s formidable army protected by Arjuna—will be directed by the named heroes. He then declares his own intention to fight those victory-seeking, strategy-skilled Pandava warriors, prepared either to win or to fall in battle.