Chapter 49: Sañjaya’s Enumeration of the Pāṇḍava Coalition (पाण्डवसैन्यसमागम-वर्णनम्)
यस्य नागायुतैर्वीर्य भुजयो: सारमर्पितम् | तेन वो भीमसेनेन पाण्डवा अभ्ययुञज्जत,जिन्होंने द्रौषधदीपर अपना प्रेम जताते हुए अत्यन्त दुर्गग एवं भयंकर गन्धमादन पर्वतकी भूमिमें प्रवेश करके क्रोधवश नामवाले राक्षसोंको मार डाला, जिनकी दोनों भुजाओंमें दस हजार हाथियोंके समान बल है, उन्हीं भीमसेनके बलसे पाण्डवोंने आपलोगोंपर आक्रमणका उद्योग किया है
sañjaya uvāca | yasya nāgāyutair vīryaṃ bhujayoḥ sāram arpitam | tena vo bhīmasenena pāṇḍavā abhyayuñjata ||
సంజయుడు పలికెను—ఎవని రెండు భుజములలో పదివేల ఏనుగుల సమానమైన బలసారం నిక్షిప్తమైయున్నదో, ఆ భీమసేనుని మీద ఆధారపడి పాండవులు మీపై దాడికి ఉపక్రమించిరి।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how collective political action often hinges on a single pillar of strength: the Pāṇḍavas’ resolve is presented as grounded in Bhīma’s extraordinary might. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—when negotiations fail, power becomes the instrument through which claims of justice are pursued, for better or worse.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas are preparing to move against the Kauravas, and he attributes their readiness to the formidable support of Bhīmasena, whose arm-strength is likened to that of ten thousand elephants.