Shloka 9
भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas
राज्यार्ध पञज्च वा ग्रामान् नाकार्षीत् स च दुर्मति: । दृष्टवा हि क्षत्रियान् शूरान् शयानान् धरणीतले
rājyārdhaṃ pañca vā grāmān nākārṣīt sa ca durmatiḥ | dṛṣṭvā hi kṣatriyān śūrān śayānān dharaṇītale ||
三阇耶说道：那心术恶劣之人，连半壁王国也不肯接受，甚至连五个村庄也不肯——尤其是在看见勇猛的刹帝利战士们倒卧于大地之后。此等英豪横陈的景象，昭示了：顽固的野心一旦拒绝公正的妥协，便会把争战推向毁灭，并背负沉重的道义后果。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A central ethical point is the danger of durmati—perverted judgment driven by pride and greed. When a leader refuses even reasonable settlement (half the kingdom or even a few villages), the resulting war brings widespread death; the verse highlights moral responsibility for preventable suffering.
Sañjaya comments on the refusal to accept compromise—neither half the kingdom nor even five villages—despite the visible aftermath of war, with brave kṣatriyas lying dead on the earth. It frames the ongoing devastation as tied to obstinate rejection of peace.