Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 16
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
सुस्कन्धो<यं महावृक्षो गदारूप इव स्थित: । अहमेनमपारुज्य द्रावयिष्यामि शात्रवान्
suskandho 'yaṃ mahāvṛkṣo gadārūpa iva sthitaḥ | aham enam apārujya drāvayiṣyāmi śātravān |
Bhīmasena said: “This great tree before us has a fine, sturdy trunk; it stands as if it were a mace in visible form. I shall wrench it up and, using it as my weapon, drive the enemy ranks into flight.”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights fearless resolve and protective duty in crisis: strength is to be directed toward safeguarding one’s side and restoring order, even by using whatever means are available, while keeping the aim as routing aggression rather than needless cruelty.
Bhīma, facing hostile forces, notices a large sturdy tree and compares it to a mace. He declares he will uproot it and use it as a weapon to scatter and rout the enemy troops.