Shloka 4
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
न हि तस्य महाबाहो: शक्रप्रतिमतेजस: । सैन्येडस्मिन् प्रतिपश्यामि य एन॑ विषहेद् युधि
na hi tasya mahābāhoḥ śakra-pratima-tejasaḥ | sainye 'smin pratipaśyāmi ya enaṁ viṣahed yudhi ||
Dhritarashtra dit : «Ô toi aux bras puissants, l’éclat de Bhima est semblable à celui d’Indra. Dans cette armée qui est la mienne, je ne vois personne qui puisse lui tenir tête au combat—personne capable de supporter son assaut dans la guerre.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how true strength (tejas) commands recognition even from opponents, and how a ruler’s moral and strategic failure can manifest as fear and helplessness when confronting the consequences of impending war.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the Pandava Bhīma’s overwhelming might, admitting that within his own forces he sees no warrior capable of withstanding Bhīma in battle—an ominous assessment of the Kauravas’ prospects.