Shloka 31
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
आशीविष इव क्रुद्ध: सहदेवो यदाभ्ययात् कदनं करिष्यउछत्रूणां तेजसा दुर्जयो युधि,विषधर सर्पके समान क्रोधमें भरे हुए तथा तेजसे दुर्जय सहदेव जब युद्धमें शत्रुओंका संहार करते हुए द्रोणाचार्यके सामने आये, उस समय श्रेष्ठ व्रतधारी अमोघ बाणोंवाले लज्जाशील और अपराजित वीर सहदेवको आते देख किन शूरवीरोंने उन्हें रोका था?
Āśīviṣa iva kruddhaḥ Sahadevo yadābhyayāt, kadanaṃ kariṣyan śatrūṇāṃ tejasā durjayo yudhi; viṣadhara-sarpaka-samānaḥ krodhena bhṛtaḥ, tejasā durjayaḥ Sahadevaḥ yuddhe śatrūṇāṃ saṃhāraṃ kurvan Droṇācāryasya samīpam āyayau; taṃ śreṣṭha-vratadhāriṇam amogha-bāṇam lajjāśīlam aparājitaṃ vīram āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā, ke śūravīrāḥ enam avārayanta?
वैशम्पायन उवाच—यदा सहदेवः क्रुद्ध आशीविष इव तेजसा युधि दुर्जयः शत्रूणां कदनं कर्तुमभ्ययात्, द्रोणाचार्यस्य पुरतः शत्रून् निघ्नन् समुपस्थितः; तम् आर्यव्रतधरम् अमोघेषुं लज्जाशीलम् अपराजितं च दृष्ट्वा के शूराः तम् निवारयामासुः?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes fierce martial energy with inner discipline: Sahadeva is portrayed as terrifying in combat yet characterized by vows and modesty, suggesting that righteous power in war is ideally governed by self-restraint and dharmic resolve.
Vaiśampāyana describes Sahadeva charging into battle like an enraged venomous serpent, cutting down enemies and coming before Droṇa; the narration then poses a question about which warriors attempted to stop or check Sahadeva’s advance.