Shloka 19

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

शूरस्तथाप्रतिबलो गौरस्ताल इवोन्नतः । प्रमाणतो भीमसेन: प्रादेशेनाधिको<र्जुनात्‌,गोरे रंगका वह शूरवीर भीमसेन ताड़के समान ऊँचा है। ऊँचाईमें वह अर्जुनसे एक बित्ता अधिक है, बलमें उसकी समता करनेवाला दूसरा कोई नहीं है

Transliteration

śūras tathāpratibalo gauraḥ tāla ivonnataḥ | pramāṇato bhīmasenaḥ prādeśenādhiko 'rjunāt ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Bhīmasena is a hero, and his strength is without equal; fair in complexion, he stands tall like a palmyra tree. In stature he surpasses Arjuna by a prādeśa (a handspan).”

Word by Word

शूरःheroic, brave

तथाthus, likewise

अप्रतिबलःirresistible; having no equal in strength

गौरःfair, bright (complexioned)

तालःpalm tree

इवlike, as if

उन्नतःlofty, tall, elevated

प्रमाणतःin measure; as to height/size

भीमसेनःBhimasena (Bhima)

प्रादेशेनby a span (hand-measure)

अधिकःgreater, exceeding

अर्जुनात्than Arjuna

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Arjuna

tāla (palmyra tree)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must realistically recognize the strengths of all parties; ignoring such truths and refusing dharma-based restraint makes conflict more destructive. The verse underscores sober discernment (knowing who is truly formidable) as a prerequisite for ethical decision-making in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as preparations and negotiations around the impending war unfold, Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes Bhīma’s exceptional might and imposing stature, noting he is tall like a palmyra and slightly taller than Arjuna.