Shloka 9
भীমेन युधिष्ठिरस्य त्यागवृत्तेः प्रतिषेधः
Bhīma’s Rebuttal of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Inclination
यथा हि पुरुष: खात्वा कूपमप्राप्य चोदकम् | पड़कदिग्धो निवर्तेत कर्मेदे नस्तथोपमम्,जैसे कोई मनुष्य परिश्रम करके कुँआ खोदे और वहाँ जल न मिलनेपर देहमें कीचड़ लपेटे हुए वहाँसे निराश लौट आये, उसी प्रकार हमारा किया-कराया यह सारा पराक्रम व्यर्थ होना चाहता है
yathā hi puruṣaḥ khātvā kūpam aprāpya codakam | paṅkadigdho nivarteta karmedaṁ nas tathopamam ||
قال بهيما: «كما أن رجلاً يحفر بئراً بمشقةٍ عظيمة ثم لا يجد ماءً، فيرجع خائباً وجسده ملطخٌ بالطين؛ كذلك تبدو أعمالنا وجهودنا كأنها تمضي إلى العبث والضياع».
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the anguish of action that fails to yield its intended fruit: even great effort can feel meaningless when outcomes are denied. Ethically, it points to the need for steadiness and discernment when results do not match exertion.
Bhima expresses frustration and despondency, comparing the Pandavas’ strenuous exertions to digging a well only to find no water—returning exhausted and muddied, symbolizing labor that seems to end in futility.