Shloka 54
अगोपमिव चोद श्रान्तं गोकुलं तद् बल॑ मम । पौरुष॑ सर्वलोकस्य परं यस्मिन् महाहवे
agopam iva cod śrāntaṁ gokulaṁ tad balaṁ mama | pauruṣaṁ sarvalokasya paraṁ yasmin mahāhave ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Bala tenteraku di sana, letih dan dipaksa mara, tampak seperti kandang ternak di Gokula—berserabut dan berhimpit. Namun dalam pertempuran besar itu, kemuncak keberanian manusia yang termasyhur di seluruh dunia telah terserlah.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts outward collapse with inner excellence: even when an army appears disordered and fatigued, true valor (pauruṣa) can still manifest. Ethically, it hints that reputation and courage are tested under pressure, not in comfort.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra reacts to the battle report, describing his own forces as worn out and driven into a cramped, confused state—likened to a gokula—while also acknowledging that extraordinary heroism was displayed in that great engagement.