Shloka 26
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
स धर्मराजस्य वचो निशम्य रूक्षाक्षरं विप्रलापानुबद्धम् । प्रत्यादेशं मन्यमानो महात्मा प्रतत्वरे भीष्मवधाय राजन्
sa dharmarājasya vaco niśamya rūkṣākṣaraṁ vipralāpānubaddham | pratyādeśaṁ manyamāno mahātmā pratatavare bhīṣmavadhāya rājan ||
三阇耶说道：“大王啊！听到法王的言辞——字字粗厉，夹杂着辛辣而逆耳的责语——高魂的尸建陀因却将其视作对自己的直接命令。他把这番斥责当作指令，便立刻匆匆而行，大王啊，着手谋求诛杀毗湿摩。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even righteous leadership may employ harsh speech under extreme moral pressure; such words can become a functional command that compels action. The verse underscores the ethical burden of war—decisions may be strategically necessary yet emotionally and morally fraught.
Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍin hears Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) speak in harsh, reproachful terms. Śikhaṇḍin interprets this as an instruction and immediately moves to undertake the effort to bring about Bhīṣma’s death.