Shloka 27
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
शूरमानी न शूरस्त्वं मृषा वदसि भारत । शूरो5हमिति दुर्बुद्धे सर्वलोकस्य शृण्वत:
śūramānī na śūras tvaṃ mṛṣā vadasi bhārata | śūro 'ham iti durbuddhe sarvalokasya śṛṇvataḥ ||
三阇耶说道：“你自以为是英雄，却并非真英雄。噢，婆罗多啊，噢，判断乖谬的国王——当众人皆在聆听之时——你宣称‘我是勇士英雄’不过是虚妄之言。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns empty self-praise and insists that true heroism is proven by conduct, not by loud claims. Ethical speech—avoiding false boasting before others—is presented as integral to honor, especially in a warrior context.
Sañjaya reports a sharp rebuke directed at a Kuru king addressed as “Bhārata,” accusing him of falsely proclaiming himself a hero in front of everyone. The line functions as a public exposure of hollow bravado amid the tensions of the war narrative.