Shloka 48
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
ते पुराणं महेष्वासा मार्गमैन्द्रं समास्थिता: । त्यक्ष्यन्ति तुमुले प्राणान् रक्षन्त: पार्थिवं यश:
te purāṇaṁ maheṣvāsā mārga-maindraṁ samāsthitāḥ | tyakṣyanti tumule prāṇān rakṣantaḥ pārthivaṁ yaśaḥ ||
Ces héros d’autrefois, puissants archers, ayant pris refuge dans l’antique voie qui mène au ciel d’Indra, rendront leur souffle dans le tumulte du combat, cherchant à préserver l’honneur et la renommée royales.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: preserving royal honor (yaśas) may be valued even above life, and death in righteous battle is envisioned as an ancient path leading to Indra’s heaven—though Dhṛtarāṣṭra voices it with sorrow, not celebration.
In the Udyoga Parva setting, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to the tense pre-war developments and foresees that veteran warriors—mighty archers of the older generation—may die in the coming fierce conflict while trying to uphold the kingly reputation of their side.