Shloka 17
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy
आशीविषसमस्पर्श: परकायप्रभेदन: । गुरुभारसहो दिव्य: सपत्नानां भयप्रद:
āśīviṣasamasparśaḥ parakāyaprabhēdanaḥ | gurubhārasaho divyaḥ sapatnānāṁ bhayapradaḥ ||
Uttara said: “He is like the touch of a venomous serpent—deadly to encounter; he can pierce through another’s body (i.e., strike with unfailing force); he can bear the heaviest burden; he is divine in prowess; and he brings fear to rival warriors.”
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of formidable strength used as deterrence: true martial excellence is described not merely as aggression, but as a power that makes adversaries hesitate, thereby shaping the moral and strategic landscape of conflict.
Uttara is describing a warrior’s terrifying capabilities through vivid metaphors—deadly contact like a serpent, the ability to pierce foes, endurance under heavy loads, and near-divine prowess—emphasizing how such a fighter inspires fear in opponents.