Shloka 48
पश्यतेमौ हि मे बाहू नागराजकरोपमौ | समर्थो पर्वतस्यापि शैशिरस्य निपातने,“गजराजके शुण्डोंके समान मोटी मेरी इन भुजाओंको देखो तो सही, ये हिमालयपर्वतको भी धराशायी करनेमें समर्थ हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
paśyatēmau hi me bāhū nāgarājakaropamau |
samartho parvatasyāpi śaiśirasya nipātane |
Sañjaya said: “Behold these two arms of mine, thick and powerful like the forearms of the king of serpents. They are strong enough even to bring down a mountain in the winter season.” The utterance conveys martial pride and intimidation—an assertion of bodily might meant to overawe opponents amid the escalating violence of the war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychology of war: warriors (or narrators quoting them) often project invincibility through hyperbolic self-praise. Ethically, it illustrates how pride in strength can fuel aggression and intensify conflict, standing in tension with restraint and humility.
In the Drona Parva’s battle context, a speaker’s words (reported by Sañjaya) emphasize formidable physical power—arms likened to a Nāga-king’s forearms—claiming the ability to topple even a mountain, thereby intimidating foes and asserting dominance on the battlefield.