Shloka 64
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
आयसी प्रतिमा येन भीमसेनस्य सा पुरा | चूर्णीकृता बलवता सो5बलामा॒श्रित: स्त्रियम्,जिन बलवान नरेशने पहले भीमसेनकी लोहमयी प्रतिमाको चूर्ण कर डाला था, वे आज अबला नारीके सहारे पड़े हैं
āyasī pratimā yena bhīmasenasya sā purā | cūrṇīkṛtā balavatā so 'balām āśritaḥ striyam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: He who once, with mighty strength, crushed Bhīmasena’s iron image into powder—today that same powerful man depends upon a helpless woman for support.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the impermanence of physical power and the ethical need for humility: time reduces even the strongest to dependence, so one should not be intoxicated by strength or status.
Vaiśampāyana remarks on a striking contrast: a man once so strong that he could pulverize an iron image of Bhīmasena is now weakened by circumstances (notably age) and must rely on a woman for support.