Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

गड्जावेग इवानूपांस्तीरजान्‌ विविधान्‌ टद्रुमान्‌ | प्रभड्क्ष्यति रणे सेनां पुत्राणां मम संजय

Transliteration

gaṅgāvega ivānūpāṁs tīrajān vividhāṁs tarūn | prabhaṅkṣyati raṇe senāṁ putrāṇāṁ mama sañjaya sañjaya ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ସଞ୍ଜୟ, ସଞ୍ଜୟ! ସେ ନରସିଂହ ଭୀମ ରଣରେ ମୋ ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ସେନାକୁ ଚୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିଦେବ। ସେ ରଥମାନଙ୍କୁ ସାରଥି, ଅଶ୍ୱ ଓ ଧ୍ୱଜ ବିହୀନ କରିଦେବ; ଏବଂ ରଥୀ ଓ ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହୀମାନଙ୍କ ଅଙ୍ଗଭଙ୍ଗ କରି ତାଙ୍କର ବଳ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିଦେବ। ଯେପରି ଜଳମୟ ଅନୂପରେ ଗଙ୍ଗାର ଉଫାନ ବେଗ ତଟବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ନାନା ପ୍ରକାର ବୃକ୍ଷକୁ ଉପାଡ଼ି ଧ୍ୱଂସ କରେ, ସେପରି ଭୀମ ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମିକୁ ଆସି ମୋ ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ବାହିନୀକୁ ବିନାଶ କରିଦେବ।

Word by Word

• गङ्गावेगः: the current/force of the Ganga
• गङ्गावेगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• अनूपान्: watery lowlands/marshy tracts
• अनूपान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तीरजान्: bank-born, growing on the riverbank
• तीरजान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीरज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विविधान्: various, many kinds of
• विविधान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तटद्रुमान्: trees on the bank
• तटद्रुमान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तट-द्रुम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रभक्ष्यति: will devour/destroy
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सेनाम्: army
• सेनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पुत्राणाम्: of (my) sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मम: my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• संजय: O Sanjaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• संजय: O Sanjaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sañjaya
• Bhīma
• Gaṅgā
• Kaurava army (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• chariots
• chariot-warriors (rathins)
• charioteers
• horses
• banners/standards
• riverbank trees

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral and psychological cost of adharma-driven conflict: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s attachment to his sons turns into dread as he foresees inevitable devastation. It underscores how unchecked ambition and refusal to reconcile can culminate in overwhelming, unstoppable consequences—symbolized by Bhīma’s force likened to the Gaṅgā’s flood.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks to Sañjaya, envisioning the coming war’s carnage. He predicts that Bhīma will crush the Kaurava forces, disabling chariots and fighters, using a vivid comparison to the Gaṅgā’s surging current uprooting riverside trees.