Shloka 4
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
परुष: कत्थनो नीच: कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्न मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छित:
paruṣaḥ katthano nīcaḥ karṇo vaikartanas tava | mantrī netā ca bandhuś ca mānī cātyantam ucchritaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اے راجن! تمہارا ویکرتن کرن سخت گو، خودستائ اور پست کردار ہے۔ پھر بھی وہی تمہارا وزیر، تمہارا سالار اور تمہارا قرابت دار بنا بیٹھا ہے؛ اور غرور کے ساتھ تمہاری سرپرستی میں بہت بلند ہو گیا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that elevating a harsh, boastful, and ethically compromised person to positions of counsel and leadership—especially due to favoritism—corrupts governance and inflames conflict; pride amplified by patronage becomes socially and politically dangerous.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhishma addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana) and criticizes Karna’s character and influence, noting that Karna has become Duryodhana’s trusted minister/leader/kinsman and has grown overly exalted through Duryodhana’s support.