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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 ||

毗湿摩说道:“在这场交战中,凡夫之人实难与此人相抗——尤其是那些天性欠缺坚忍(勇气)、威能、力量等诸德者。噫,众人之虎啊!”

प्रतियोद्धुम्to fight against
प्रतियोद्धुम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-युध्
Formतुमुन् (infinitive)
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शक्यःpossible; able (to be done)
शक्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
मानुषैःby men; by humans
मानुषैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमानुष
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
एषःthis one (him)
एषः:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संयुगेin battle
संयुगे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसंयुग
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
विहीनैःby those who are devoid (of)
विहीनैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootविहीन
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
पुरुषव्याघ्रO tiger among men
पुरुषव्याघ्र:
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष-व्याघ्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
सत्त्वशक्तिबलादिभिःwith courage, power, strength, etc.
सत्त्वशक्तिबलादिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व-शक्ति-बल-आदि
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
पुरुषसिंहO lion among men
पुरुषसिंह:
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष-सिंह
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

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.