Shloka 22
Prabhāsa-tīrthe Vṛṣṇi–Pāṇḍava-saṅgamaḥ; Halī Rāmasya dharma-vimarśaḥ
Meeting at Prabhāsa and Balarāma’s Reflection on Dharma
जिते हि धर्मस्य सुते सभार्ये सभ्रातृके सानुचरे निरस्ते । दुर्योधने चापि विवर्धमाने कथं न सीदत्यवनि: सशैला,पत्नीसहित धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर जूएमें हार गये और भाइयों एवं सेवकोंसहित राज्यसे बाहर कर दिये गये, उधर दुर्योधन (अनीतिपरायण होकर भी दिनोदिन) बढ़ रहा है, ऐसी दशामें पर्वतोंसहित यह पृथ्वी क्यों नहीं फट जाती?
jite hi dharmasya sute sabhārye sabhrātṛke sānucare niraste | duryodhane cāpi vivardhamāne kathaṁ na sīdaty avaniḥ saśailā ||
«إذا كان ابن دارما، ومعه زوجته وإخوته وأتباعه، قد هُزم في القمار وطُرد، بينما دوريوذانا—على الرغم من جوره—يزداد نماءً وازدهارًا؛ فكيف لا تغور الأرض، بكل جبالها، أو تنشقّ خجلًا؟»
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the shock of moral disorder: when the righteous suffer and the unrighteous flourish, it feels as though the very cosmos should protest. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s concern with dharma as a cosmic and social balance, and the anguish caused when that balance appears violated.
Baladeva reacts to the outcome of the dice game: Yudhiṣṭhira, along with Draupadī, his brothers, and followers, has been defeated and expelled, while Duryodhana grows in power. Baladeva voices indignation and grief at this reversal of justice.