Shloka 37
रूप॑ चाप्रतिमं तस्य त्रिदशैश्षापि दुर्लभम्
rūpaṃ cāpratimaṃ tasya tridaśaiś cāpi durlabham
रूपं चाप्रतिमं तस्य त्रिदशैरपि दुर्लभम्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea that certain forms of excellence—beauty, power, or heroic presence—can be so extraordinary that they are described as surpassing even divine standards. In the epic’s ethical atmosphere, such praise also heightens the tragedy of war: even the most exceptional beings are drawn into destruction when dharma is contested.
Sañjaya, reporting events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describes a warrior’s remarkable appearance. By saying it is ‘incomparable’ and ‘rare even among the gods,’ he amplifies the awe surrounding the figure being described and signals the intensity and grandeur of the battlefield scene.