Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
युधिष्ठिरस्य च क्रोधादर्जुनस्य च विक्रमात् । यमाभ्यां भीमसेनाच्च भयं मे तात जायते
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | yudhiṣṭhirasya ca krodhād arjunasya ca vikramāt | yamābhyāṃ bhīmasenāc ca bhayaṃ me tāta jāyate, tāta sañjaya |
قال دِهْرِتَرَاشْتْرَ: «يا بُنَيّ، إن الخوف ينهض في قلبي—من غضب يُدْهِشْتِيرَا، ومن بأس أَرْجُونَا، ومن الأخوين التوأمين نَكُولَا وسَهَدِيفَا، ومن بِهِيمَسِينَا. يا سَنْجَيَا، حين يبسط هؤلاء الملوك في داخل جيشي، كأنما هي شبكة، نسيجًا من الأسلحة السماوية العجيبة، فلن يقدر جنودي على اجتيازها؛ ولذلك أنا أنوح.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Unchecked attachment and partiality in a ruler breed moral blindness: Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes the Pāṇḍavas’ power yet remains trapped in fear and lamentation rather than choosing a dharmic settlement. The verse highlights how adharma-driven politics culminate in inevitable suffering.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Dhṛtarāṣṭra confides to Sañjaya his dread of the Pāṇḍavas—Yudhiṣṭhira, Arjuna, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, and Bhīma—anticipating that their extraordinary weapons and prowess will overwhelm his army.