Shloka 75
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
क्षात्रेण च बलेनास्य नापश्यत् स पराजयम् | हीनं विदित्वा चात्मानं ब्राह्ेण स बलेन तु
kṣātreṇa ca balenāsya nāpaśyat sa parājayam | hīnaṃ viditvā cātmānaṃ brāhmeṇa sa balena tu |
Waiśaṃpāyana berkata: Drupada tidak melihat bahwa Droṇa dapat dikalahkan hanya dengan kekuatan ksatria dan daya perang. Menyadari dirinya kalah dalam brahmabala—daya tapa dan kesakralan—ia mengembara di bumi dengan hasrat memperoleh seorang putra perkasa yang sanggup menundukkan Droṇa. Sementara itu Droṇa menaklukkan dan menguasai kerajaan Ahicchatra di Pañcāla utara.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts kṣātra-bala (martial power) with brāhma-bala (spiritual/ascetic potency), implying that victory is not secured by force alone; insight, merit, and higher means (such as tapas and mantra) can decisively shape outcomes and political realities.
Drupada recognizes that he cannot defeat Drona through ordinary military strength and therefore seeks a powerful son as a means to overcome him; at the same time, Drona consolidates power by taking control of Ahicchatra in northern Pañcāla.