Shloka 31
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava Champions (भीष्मकृतः रथिनां गुणनिरूपणम्)
द्रौोपदीहरणे राजन् परिक्लिष्टश्न॒ पाण्डवै: । संस्मरंस्तं परिक्लेशं योत्स्यते परवीरहा
draupadī-haraṇe rājan parikliṣṭaḥ sa pāṇḍavaiḥ | saṃsmarans taṃ parikleśaṃ yotsyate paravīrahā nara-īśvara ||
اے نرَیشور! دروپدی کے اغوا کے وقت پانڈوؤں نے اسے سخت اذیت اور رسوائی پہنچائی تھی۔ اسی عظیم ذلت و کرب کو یاد کر کے، دشمن کے سورماؤں کا قاتل جےدرَتھ یقیناً جنگ کرے گا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how remembered humiliation and unresolved grievance can harden resolve and intensify warfare; it implicitly warns that dishonor and retaliation become powerful drivers in kṣatriya conflict, often overriding restraint.
Bhīṣma explains to the king that Jayadratha, previously shamed and distressed by the Pāṇḍavas during Draupadī’s abduction episode, will surely enter battle now, motivated by the memory of that earlier suffering.