Shloka 4
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
परुष: कत्थनो नीच: कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्न मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छित:
paruṣaḥ katthano nīcaḥ karṇo vaikartanas tava | mantrī netā ca bandhuś ca mānī cātyantam ucchritaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“你的迦尔那——车夫之子毗迦尔多那——言辞刻薄，夸矜自矜，行止卑下。然而他却成了你的大臣、你的统帅、你的亲族；又因骄慢，在你的庇护之下，他的地位竟升得极高。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that elevating a harsh, boastful, and ethically compromised person to positions of counsel and leadership—especially due to favoritism—corrupts governance and inflames conflict; pride amplified by patronage becomes socially and politically dangerous.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhishma addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana) and criticizes Karna’s character and influence, noting that Karna has become Duryodhana’s trusted minister/leader/kinsman and has grown overly exalted through Duryodhana’s support.