Shloka 14
Adhyāya 69: Strategic duels under Bhīṣma’s command
Virāṭa–Bhīṣma; Arjuna–Aśvatthāmā; Bhīma–Duryodhana; Abhimanyu–Lakṣmaṇa
तथा मनुष्यो5यमिति कदाचित् सुरसत्तमा: । नावज्ञेयो महावीर्य: शड्खचक्रगदाधर:,'सुरश्रेष्टण! शंख, चक्र और गदा धारण करनेवाले उन महापराक्रमी भगवान् वासुदेवका “ये मनुष्य हैं' ऐसा समझकर अनादर नहीं करना चाहिये
tathā manuṣyo ’yam iti kadācit surasattamāḥ | nāvajñeyo mahāvīryaḥ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اے دیوتاؤں کے سردارو! شَنگھ، چکر اور گدا دھارنے والے اس عظیم قوت والے بھگوان واسودیو کو ‘یہ تو محض انسان ہے’ سمجھ کر کبھی بھی حقیر نہ جاننا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not judge by outward appearance or social category: one should never disrespect Vāsudeva by reducing him to ‘mere human,’ for true greatness (and divinity) may be veiled in human form; reverence and discernment are ethical duties.
In the Bhīṣma Parva war-context, Bhīṣma addresses exalted beings and emphasizes Kṛṣṇa/Vāsudeva’s supreme power and identity, warning against underestimating him as simply a man—especially significant amid strategic and moral decisions on the battlefield.