Shloka 20
धृतराष्ट्रस्य बलाबलचिन्ता
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Strength and Preference for Śama
तमर्जुनं महेष्वासं महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रविक्रमम् । निध्नन्तमिव पश्यामि विमर्देडस्मिन् महाहवे
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
tam arjunaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ mahendropendravikramam |
nidhnaṃtam iva paśyāmi vimarde 'smin mahāhave ||
বৈশম্পায়নে ক’লে—এই মহাযুদ্ধৰ এই ভয়ংকৰ সংঘৰ্ষত মহেন্দ্ৰ-উপেন্দ্ৰৰ সমান বিক্ৰম থকা সেই মহাধনুৰ্ধৰ অৰ্জুনক মই যেন শত্রুক নিধন কৰি আছে বুলি দেখিছোঁ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial excellence within a moral horizon: Arjuna’s power is portrayed as awe-inspiring and almost divine, suggesting that when strength is aligned with dharma and disciplined purpose, it becomes a force that can decisively protect order against aggression.
The narrator Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Arjuna in the context of an impending or envisioned great battle, picturing him as if already engaged in the melee and cutting down foes—his valor likened to Indra and Viṣṇu to convey unmatched battlefield dominance.