Shloka 47
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
बलीय: सर्वतो दिष्टं पुरुषस्थ विशेषत: । पश्यन्नपि जयं तेषां न नियच्छामि यत् सुतान्,पुरुषका भाग्य ही सबसे विशेष प्रबल है, क्योंकि मैं पाण्डवोंकी विजय समझकर भी अपने पुत्रोंको रोक नहीं पाता हूँ
balīyaḥ sarvato diṣṭaṃ puruṣastha viśeṣataḥ | paśyann api jayaṃ teṣāṃ na niyacchāmi yat sutān |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Le destin est plus fort que tout—surtout lorsqu’il est logé dans la volonté et le caractère mêmes d’un homme. Bien que je puisse prévoir leur victoire, je suis incapable de retenir mes fils.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between destiny (diṣṭa) and human agency (puruṣastha): Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes the likely righteous outcome (the Pāṇḍavas’ victory) yet confesses his failure of self-mastery and kingship—an ethical warning that attachment and weakness can make one complicit in adharma even when one knows better.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the unfolding conflict. He admits that despite perceiving the Pāṇḍavas’ impending triumph, he cannot control or restrain his sons, implying his inability to prevent the march toward war.