Shloka 47
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
बलीय: सर्वतो दिष्टं पुरुषस्थ विशेषत: । पश्यन्नपि जयं तेषां न नियच्छामि यत् सुतान्,पुरुषका भाग्य ही सबसे विशेष प्रबल है, क्योंकि मैं पाण्डवोंकी विजय समझकर भी अपने पुत्रोंको रोक नहीं पाता हूँ
balīyaḥ sarvato diṣṭaṃ puruṣastha viśeṣataḥ | paśyann api jayaṃ teṣāṃ na niyacchāmi yat sutān |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Takdir lebih kuat daripada segala-galanya—terutama apabila ia bersemayam dalam kehendak dan tabiat seseorang. Walaupun aku dapat melihat kemenangan mereka, aku tidak mampu menahan anak-anakku.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between destiny (diṣṭa) and human agency (puruṣastha): Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes the likely righteous outcome (the Pāṇḍavas’ victory) yet confesses his failure of self-mastery and kingship—an ethical warning that attachment and weakness can make one complicit in adharma even when one knows better.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the unfolding conflict. He admits that despite perceiving the Pāṇḍavas’ impending triumph, he cannot control or restrain his sons, implying his inability to prevent the march toward war.