Shloka 10
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
सर्वेषां मम पुत्राणां स एक: क्रूरविक्रम: । बह्नाशी विप्रतीपश्च बाल्येडपि रभस: सदा
sarveṣāṃ mama putrāṇāṃ sa ekaḥ krūravikramaḥ | bahnāśī vipratīpaś ca bālye 'pi rabhasaḥ sadā ||
ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു—എന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരിൽ അവൻ ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം, ഭീമസേനൻ, ക്രൂരവിക്രമശാലി; അതിഭോജി, എല്ലാവർക്കും വിരുദ്ധമായി നടക്കുന്നവൻ, ബാല്യത്തിലുമുതൽ എപ്പോഴും ഉഗ്രവേഗമുള്ളവൻ.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how power and intensity (Bhīma’s strength and speed) can be interpreted through the lens of fear and factionalism. Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s description suggests a moral warning: when a leader is driven by attachment to his own side, he may label the opposing party’s virtues as vices, deepening enmity and undermining dharma-based reconciliation.
In Udyoga Parva, as tensions move toward war, Dhṛtarāṣṭra recalls and characterizes Bhīmasena among the princes. He singles Bhīma out as exceptionally formidable and troublesome from childhood, reflecting the Kaurava court’s long-standing apprehension about Bhīma’s strength and temperament.