Shloka 9
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
रणे रणे5भिमानी च विमुखश्चापि दृश्यते । घृणी कर्ण: प्रमादी च तेन मे<र्थरथो मत:,“यह प्रत्येक युद्धमें घमंड तो बहुत दिखाता है; परंतु वहाँसे भागता ही देखा जाता है। कर्ण दयालु और प्रमादी है। इसलिये मेरी रायमें भी यह अर्धरथी ही है'
raṇe raṇe ’bhimānī ca vimukhaś cāpi dṛśyate | ghṛṇī karṇaḥ pramādī ca tena me ’rdharatho mataḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“一战又一战，他总是显出极大的傲气，然而也屡屡被人看见转身避战。迦尔那心怀怜悯，却又容易在判断上失措；因此依我之见，他不过是‘阿尔达拉塔’——仅属中等之列的武士。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights that martial worth is not measured by boastfulness alone: pride without steadfastness in danger, and compassion without disciplined judgment, can diminish a warrior’s effectiveness and reliability.
During the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Bhīṣma evaluates leading fighters. Here he gives his candid appraisal of Karṇa, noting repeated displays of arrogance alongside retreat, and concludes that Karṇa does not merit the highest warrior classification.