Shloka 45
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā
वलीसंछज्ननयन: शूर: परमदुर्जय: । अक्ष्णोरुन्मीलनार्थाय बद्धपट्टो हासौ नृप:,तदनन्तर भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनसे कहा--“कुन्तीनन्दन! यह भगदत्त बहुत बड़ी अवस्थाका है। इसके सारे बाल पक गये हैं और ललाट आदि अंगोंमें झुर्रियाँ पड़ जानेके कारण पलकें झपी रहनेसे इसके नेत्र प्राय: बंद-से रहते हैं। यह शूरवीर तथा अत्यन्त दुर्जय है। इस राजाने अपने दोनों नेत्रोंको खुले रखनेके लिये पलकोंको कपड़ेकी पट्टीसे ललाटमें बाँध रखा है”
sañjaya uvāca |
valīsaṃchanna-nayanaḥ śūraḥ paramadurjayaḥ |
akṣṇor unmīlanārthāya baddha-paṭṭo ha sa nṛpaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: That king, a hero and exceedingly hard to overcome, had eyes veiled by wrinkles. In order to keep his eyes open, he had bound a cloth-band across his forehead.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not underestimate an opponent—or any person—based on outward signs like age or physical limitation; true strength lies in resolve, experience, and capability, and ethical judgment in conflict requires clear-eyed assessment rather than superficial perception.
Sanjaya narrates a striking detail about the enemy king: his eyelids tend to droop due to age and wrinkles, so he ties a cloth-band to keep his eyes open, yet he remains a brave and nearly unconquerable warrior—setting the stage for the gravity of the combat around him.