Shloka 31
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
तस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले प्रतप्ते लोमहर्षणे । मिथो भेदो न मे कार्यस्तेन जीवसि सूतज
tasminn abhyāgate kāle pratapte lomaharṣaṇe | mitho bhedo na me kāryas tena jīvasi sūtaja ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Giờ khắc mong đợi từ lâu—bỏng rát khổ đau, khiến tóc gáy dựng đứng—đã đến. Ta không được gây chia rẽ trong hàng ngũ mình. Vì thế, hỡi con trai của sūta, ngươi vẫn còn sống.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis that threatens collective survival, a leader may prioritize unity and restraint over personal grievances; creating internal division at a decisive moment is presented as ethically improper.
Bhīṣma addresses Karṇa (called sūtaja), stating that the terrifying, painful time he long anticipated has arrived, and that he will not provoke mutual dissension—hence Karṇa is being spared despite tensions.