Shloka 42
Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
तथैव भीष्म गाड़ेयं द्रष्टं नोत्सहते जन:,“इसी प्रकार गंगानन्दन भीष्मकी ओर भी कोई मनुष्य देखनेका साहस नहीं करता है
tathaiva bhīṣmaṁ gāṅgeyaṁ draṣṭuṁ notsahate janaḥ |
“In the same way, no one among the people dares even to look upon Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral stature and heroic reputation can inspire a mixture of reverence and fear: Bhīṣma’s greatness is such that ordinary people lack the courage even to meet his gaze, illustrating the social power of virtue, renown, and formidable strength.
Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīṣma (called Gāṅgeya, ‘son of Gaṅgā’) as so imposing that people do not dare to look at him—an emphatic narrative device to convey his intimidating presence and unmatched prestige.