Shloka 6
Adhyāya 16 — Daiva, Kṣatriya-dharma, and Public Reassurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
नागायुतसमप्राण: ख्यातविक्रमपौरुष: । नायं भीमो>त्ययं गच्छेदिति चोद्धर्षणं कृतम्
nāgāyutasamaprāṇaḥ khyātavikramapauruṣaḥ | nāyaṃ bhīmo ’tyayaṃ gacched iti coddharṣaṇaṃ kṛtam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Endowed with the life-force of ten thousand nāgas, and famed for his valor and manly prowess, Bhīma was not one to meet an untimely end.” With this conviction, words of encouragement and rousing assurance were spoken.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how recognized virtue and proven strength (vikrama, pauruṣa) become grounds for confidence and morale: one should not hastily assume ruin for a steadfast, capable person; instead, timely encouragement can uphold resolve in adversity.
The narrator describes Bhīma as extraordinarily powerful—likened to possessing the vitality of ten thousand nāgas—and notes that, believing he would not succumb to disaster, those present offered rousing words meant to hearten and steady the situation.