Shloka 43
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
ह्वीमान् मनीषी बलवान् मनस्वी स लक्ष्मीवान् सोमकानां प्रबर्ह: । न जातु तं॑ शत्रवो<न्ये सहेरन् येषां स स्यादग्रणीर्वष्णिसिंह:
hvīmān manīṣī balavān manasvī sa lakṣmīvān somakānāṁ prabarhaḥ | na jātu taṁ śatravo 'nye saheran yeṣāṁ sa syād agraṇīr vṛṣṇisiṁhaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wira terulung dalam kalangan Somaka ini—bijaksana dalam musyawarah, perkasa dalam kekuatan, teguh dalam jiwa, serta dikurniai tuah mulia—tidak dapat ditanggung oleh musuh-musuh lain. Sesungguhnya, apabila ‘singa kaum Vṛṣṇi’ berdiri sebagai pemimpin di barisan hadapan, tiada pasukan lawan mampu menahan gelora serbuannya.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of kṣatriya leadership: strength must be joined with discernment, self-restraint, and steadfast resolve. Such a leader, when placed at the head of an army, becomes a moral and strategic force that opponents find difficult to withstand.
Sañjaya is describing the formidable allied champions—praising a foremost Somaka hero and the ‘lion among the Vṛṣṇis’ as a front-line leader—emphasizing that their presence and momentum make the enemy’s resistance unlikely.