Shloka 55
Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)
परवीर्य समाश्रित्य यः समाह्दयते परान् | अशक्त: स्वयमादातुमेतदेव नपुंसकम्,“जो स्वयं सामना करनेमें असमर्थ होनेके कारण दूसरोंके पराक्रमका भरोसा करके शत्रुओंको युद्धके लिये ललकारता है, उसका यह कार्य उसकी नपुंसकताका ही सूचक है
paravīrya samāśritya yaḥ samāhvayate parān | aśaktaḥ svayam ādātuṃ etad eva napuṃsakam ||
Disse Sañjaya: “Aquele que, apoiando-se na bravura de outros, desafia os inimigos para a batalha — sendo ele próprio incapaz de enfrentá-los —, esse ato em si é sinal de sua covardia e indignidade.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that provoking conflict while depending on others to bear the real risk is ethically blameworthy; courage is measured by one’s own readiness to face consequences, not by loud challenges supported by borrowed power.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war tensions, Sanjaya comments on the moral quality of a person who issues battle challenges while lacking the personal capacity to meet them, framing such posturing as a sign of cowardice rather than heroism.