भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जय: |
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च || 8||
1.8: There are personalities like yourself, Bheeshma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarn, and Bhurishrava, who are ever victorious in battle.
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च || 8||
1.8: There are personalities like yourself, Bheeshma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarn, and Bhurishrava, who are ever victorious in battle.
अन्ये च बहव: शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविता: |
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणा: सर्वे युद्धविशारदा: || 9||
1.9: Also, there are many other heroic warriors, who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. They are all skilled in the art of warfare, and equipped with various kinds of weapons.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् |
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् || 10||
1.10: The strength of our army is unlimited and we are safely marshalled by Grandsire Bheeshma, while the strength of the Pandava army, carefully marshalled by Bheem, is limited.
Commentary:Duryodhan’s words of self-aggrandizement were the typical utterances of a vainglorious person. When their end draws near, instead of making a humble evaluation of the situation, self-aggrandizing people egotistically indulge in vainglory. This tragic irony of fate was reflected in the statement of Duryodhan, when he said that their strength, secured by Bheeshma, was unlimited.
Grandsire Bheeshma was the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army. He had received the boon that he could choose his time of death, which made him practically invincible. On the Pandavas’ side, the army was secured by Bheem, who was Duryodhan’s sworn enemy. Thus, Duryodhan compared the strength of Bheeshma with the might of Bheem. Bheeshma, however, was the uncle of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and he was genuinely concerned about the welfare of both sides. His compassion for the Pandavas would prevent him from fighting the war wholeheartedly. Also, he knew that in this holy war, where Lord Krishna himself was present, no power on earth could make the side of adharma win. And so, in order to honor his ethical commitment to the subjects of Hastinapur and the Kauravas, he chose to fight against the Pandavas. This decision underscores the enigmatic character of Bheeshma’s personality.
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