Shloka 28
सर्वथा त्वं महाबाहो देवैरपि दुरुत्सह: । प्रभावं पौरुषं बुद्धि जानामि तव शत्रुहन्
sarvathā tvaṃ mahābāho devair api durutsahaḥ | prabhāvaṃ pauruṣaṃ buddhiṃ jānāmi tava śatruhan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “In every way, O mighty-armed one, you are irresistible—even to the gods. O slayer of foes, I know well your power, your manly valor, and your discerning intelligence.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical ideal of recognizing genuine excellence: true authority in a warrior-leader rests not only on strength (prabhāva) and valor (pauruṣa) but also on sound judgment (buddhi). Such balanced capability makes one ‘hard to withstand,’ even in the face of the highest powers.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events of the Udyoga Parva, voices a formal commendation of a great warrior addressed as “mahābāhu” and “śatruhan,” affirming that the person’s power, heroism, and intelligence are widely acknowledged and formidable—even to the gods.