Shloka 40
अन्धकार-रजःसंमूढे रणाङ्गणे प्रदीपप्रकाशः | Illumination of the Army in Darkness and Dust
विक्रमं भुजयोर्वीर्य धैर्य च विदितात्मन: । पुत्रास्तव महाराज दृष्टवा विमनसो5भवन्,महाराज! सुविख्यात भीमसेनके पराक्रम, बाहुबल और धैर्यको देखकर आपके सभी पुत्र उदास हो गये
vikramaṁ bhujayor vīryaṁ dhairyaṁ ca viditātmanaḥ | putrās tava mahārāja dṛṣṭvā vimanaso 'bhavan ||
Sañjaya said: O great king, seeing the famed Bhīmasena—whose prowess, arm-strength, valor, and steadfast courage are well known—your sons became disheartened. The sight of such disciplined power shook their confidence amid the moral and physical pressures of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how true, disciplined strength (vīrya and dhairya) affects the moral psychology of conflict: the presence of a steadfast warrior can weaken the resolve of opponents. It implicitly contrasts inner composure and known character (viditātmā) with wavering morale.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava princes, upon witnessing Bhīma’s renowned might and courage in the battle context, became dejected and lost heart.