Shloka 19
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
महासिंहो गाव इव प्रविश्य गदापाणिर्धारिराष्ट्रानुपेत्य । यदा भीमो भीमरूपो निहन्ता तदा युद्ध धार्तराष्ट्रोडन्वतप्स्यत्
mahāsiṁho gāva iva praviśya gadāpāṇir dhārtarāṣṭrān upetya | yadā bhīmo bhīmarūpo nihantā tadā yuddhe dhārtarāṣṭro ’nv-atapsyata ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Wie ein großer Löwe, der in eine Rinderherde einfällt, wird Bhīma—die Keule in der Hand—in euer Heer eindringen und zu den Söhnen Dhṛtarāṣṭras vordringen. Wenn Bhīma, schrecklich von Gestalt und ein Verderber, sie auf solche Weise niederstreckt, dann wird Duryodhana mitten im Kampf von Reue verzehrt werden.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral logic of consequence: when conflict is pursued through adharma—pride, obstinacy, and injustice—its fruits are terror and later remorse. Duryodhana’s anticipated regret highlights that refusing timely peace and counsel leads to suffering that cannot be undone once war begins.
Sañjaya foretells to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield outcome: Bhīma, wielding his mace, will break into the Kaurava ranks and strike down Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, compared to a lion pouncing upon cattle. The prediction culminates in Duryodhana’s future anguish amid the war.