Shloka 34
Aśvatthāman’s Admonition to Karṇa on Boasting, Varṇa-Duties, and the Threat of Arjuna
Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 45
असहायो<5सि कौन्तेय ससहायाश्ष कौरवा: । अतएव महाबाहो भीतस्तिष्ठामि तेडग्रत:,कुन्तीनन्दन! आप असहाय हैं और कौरवोंके साथ बहुतेरे सहायक हैं। महाबाहो! यह सोचकर मैं आपके सामने भयभीत हो रहा हूँ
asahāyo 'si kaunteya sahāyāś ca kauravāḥ | ata eva mahābāho bhītas tiṣṭhāmi te 'grataḥ ||
اُتّر نے کہا—اے کَونتیہ! آپ بےسہارا ہیں اور کورو بہت سے مددگاروں کے ساتھ ہیں۔ اسی لیے، اے مہاباہو، یہ سوچ کر میں آپ کے سامنے خوف زدہ کھڑا ہوں۔
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear arises from judging strength only by external support and numbers; it implicitly points toward the need for steadiness and right resolve (kṣātra-dharma) even when one feels outmatched.
Prince Uttara, facing the prospect of battle, tells Arjuna (disguised as Bṛhannalā) that Arjuna seems without allies while the Kauravas have many supporters; overwhelmed by this comparison, Uttara admits he is standing before Arjuna in fear.