Shloka 31

Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

विगाहा रथमार्गेषु वरानुद्दिश्य निघ्नतः । अग्ने: प्रज्वलितस्येव अपि मुच्येत मे प्रजा

Transliteration

vigāhā rathamārgeṣu varān uddiśya nighnataḥ | agneḥ prajvalitasyeva api mucyeta me prajā ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଯେତେବେଳେ ଅଗ୍ନି ସମ ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଳିତ ଭୀମ ରଥମାର୍ଗମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରି, ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଯୋଧାମାନଙ୍କୁ ବାଛି ବାଛି ନିହତ କରିବ, ସେତେବେଳେ ମୋ ପୁତ୍ରମାନେ—ମୋ ପ୍ରଜା—ତାହାର ହାତରୁ କିପରି ବଞ୍ଚିବେ?

Word by Word

• विगाहाः: plunging/entering (ones)
• विगाहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विगाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रथमार्गेषु: in the chariot-paths/roads
• रथमार्गेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• वरान्: the best (men/warriors)
• वरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उद्दिश्य: having aimed at/targeting
• उद्दिश्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Non-finite

• निघ्नतः: of (him) striking down/killing
• निघ्नतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अग्नेः: of fire
• अग्नेः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रज्वलितस्य: of the blazing (one)
• प्रज्वलितस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मुच्येत: might be released/escape
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-lin (optative), Atmanepada, 3rd, Singular, Passive (impersonal/subject as patient)

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• प्रजाः: offspring/children
• प्रजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• ratha (chariot)
• agni (fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral and political consequence of choosing war despite knowing its catastrophic cost: a ruler’s attachment and partiality (Dhṛtarāṣṭra toward his sons) turns into fear for those he ought to protect, underscoring responsibility and the inevitability of results once violence is unleashed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra imagines Bhīma entering the chariot formations in battle, targeting and killing the best warriors. He expresses dread that, with Bhīma ‘blazing like fire,’ his own side—especially his sons—will not be able to survive.