Shloka 31
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
विगाहा रथमार्गेषु वरानुद्दिश्य निघ्नतः । अग्ने: प्रज्वलितस्येव अपि मुच्येत मे प्रजा,भीमसेन जब क्रोधजनित आँसू बहाता और बारंबार अपने ओएष्ठप्रान्तको चाटता हुआ गदा घुमा-घुमाकर हाथियोंके मस्तक विदीर्ण करने लगेगा, सामने भयंकर गर्जना करनेवाले गजराजोंको लक्ष्य करके उनकी ओर दौड़ेगा, प्रतिकूल दिशाकी ओर भागनेवाले मदोन्मत्त हाथियोंकी गर्जनाके उत्तरमें स्वयं भी सिंहनाद करेगा और मेरे रथियोंकी सेनाओंमें घुसकर श्रेष्ठ वीरोंको चुन-चुनकर मारने लगेगा, उस समय अग्निके समान प्रज्वलित होनेवाले भीमके हाथसे मेरे पुत्र कैसे जीवित बचेंगे?
vigāhā rathamārgeṣu varān uddiśya nighnataḥ | agneḥ prajvalitasyeva api mucyeta me prajā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “When Bhīma, blazing like fire, plunges into the lanes of chariots and, singling out the foremost warriors, strikes them down, how could my sons—my people—escape from his hand?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and political consequence of choosing war despite knowing its catastrophic cost: a ruler’s attachment and partiality (Dhṛtarāṣṭra toward his sons) turns into fear for those he ought to protect, underscoring responsibility and the inevitability of results once violence is unleashed.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra imagines Bhīma entering the chariot formations in battle, targeting and killing the best warriors. He expresses dread that, with Bhīma ‘blazing like fire,’ his own side—especially his sons—will not be able to survive.