Shloka 31
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
प्रतियोद्धुं न शक््यो हि मानुषैरेष संयुगे । विहीनै: पुरुषव्याप्र सत्त्वशक्तिबलादिभि:,पुरुषसिंह! सत्त्व (धैर्य) शक्ति और बल आदिसे स्वभावतः हीन मनुष्य युद्धमें इन श्रीकृष्णका सामना नहीं कर सकते
pratiyoddhuṁ na śakyo hi mānuṣair eṣa saṁyuge | vihīnaiḥ puruṣavyāghra sattvaśaktibalādibhiḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Trong chiến trận, người thường không thể thật sự đối địch với đấng này—nhất là những kẻ vốn kém cỏi, hỡi bậc hùng sư giữa loài người, về sự kiên định (dũng khí), quyền năng, sức mạnh và các phẩm chất tương tự.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that confronting the divine (here, Kṛṣṇa) is not merely a matter of physical combat; without inner steadfastness (sattva), capability (śakti), and strength (bala), human opposition is inherently inadequate. The verse highlights the limits of purely human power when dharma and divine purpose are at work.
Bhīṣma, speaking as an authoritative elder, describes Kṛṣṇa as effectively unassailable in the context of battle. He addresses a heroic listener (“puruṣavyāghra”) and emphasizes that ordinary men—especially those lacking key virtues and powers—cannot stand against Kṛṣṇa.