Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 15
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
धृष्टय्युम्नस्त्वभून्नेता पाण्डवानां महास्त्रवित् । गुप्तो भीमेन मेधावी मित्रेण वरुणो यथा
dhṛṣṭadyumnas tv abhūn netā pāṇḍavānāṁ mahāstravit | gupto bhīmena medhāvī mitreṇa varuṇo yathā ||
Wika ni Vāsudeva: “Si Dhṛṣṭadyumna ang naging kumander ng mga Pāṇḍava, dalubhasa sa mga dakilang sandata. Ang marunong na Dhṛṣṭadyumna ay pinangangalagaan ni Bhīma, gaya ng pag-iingat ni Mitra kay Varuṇa.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective leadership in dharmic warfare depends not only on skill (mahāstravit) but also on loyal protection and cooperation among allies; the Mitra–Varuṇa comparison elevates guardianship and trust as ethical supports of power.
Vāsudeva describes the Pāṇḍava military arrangement: Dhṛṣṭadyumna serves as commander, renowned for weapon-knowledge, while Bhīma acts as his protector—likened to Mitra safeguarding Varuṇa.