Shloka 47
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 50 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Bhīmasena (भीमसेनभयवर्णनम्)
बलीय: सर्वतो दिष्टं पुरुषस्थ विशेषत: । पश्यन्नपि जयं तेषां न नियच्छामि यत् सुतान्,पुरुषका भाग्य ही सबसे विशेष प्रबल है, क्योंकि मैं पाण्डवोंकी विजय समझकर भी अपने पुत्रोंको रोक नहीं पाता हूँ
balīyaḥ sarvato diṣṭaṃ puruṣastha viśeṣataḥ | paśyann api jayaṃ teṣāṃ na niyacchāmi yat sutān |
持国王说道：“命运强于一切——尤其当它寄寓于人的意志与性情之中。纵然我已预见他们的胜利，却仍无法约束我的儿子们。”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between destiny (diṣṭa) and human agency (puruṣastha): Dhṛtarāṣṭra recognizes the likely righteous outcome (the Pāṇḍavas’ victory) yet confesses his failure of self-mastery and kingship—an ethical warning that attachment and weakness can make one complicit in adharma even when one knows better.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsel, Dhṛtarāṣṭra reflects on the unfolding conflict. He admits that despite perceiving the Pāṇḍavas’ impending triumph, he cannot control or restrain his sons, implying his inability to prevent the march toward war.