Shloka 8
न च भीष्मस्य दुर्मेधा: शृणोति विदुरस्य वा । मम वा भाषितं किंचित् सर्वमेवातिवर्तते,खोटी बुद्धिवाला वह दुष्ट न भीष्मकी, न विदुरकी और न मेरी ही कोई बात सुनता है। वह सबकी सभी बातोंको लाँघ जाता है
na ca bhīṣmasya durmedhāḥ śṛṇoti vidurasya vā | mama vā bhāṣitaṃ kiñcit sarvam evātivartate ||
Kẻ có trí hiểu lệch lạc ấy chẳng chịu nghe—không nghe Bhīṣma, không nghe Vidura, và cũng chẳng nghe bất cứ điều gì ta nói. Hắn vượt qua và khinh bỏ mọi lời khuyên, gạt phăng mọi sự kiềm chế và minh triết.
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader (or any decision-maker) who refuses to listen to wise counsel—especially from elders and well-wishers—falls into ethical blindness (durmedhāḥ) and crosses boundaries (ativartate). The verse highlights that arrogance and obstinacy are themselves forms of adharma, because they reject guidance meant to prevent harm.
Kṛṣṇa is describing the obstinate nature of the principal wrongdoer on the Kaurava side (implicitly Duryodhana): he will not heed Bhīṣma’s seasoned judgment, Vidura’s dharmic counsel, or even Kṛṣṇa’s words. This refusal of counsel signals that peaceful resolution is being deliberately blocked, pushing events toward war.