Shloka 34
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
क्षत्रियेण धनुर्नाम्यं स भवान् ब्राह्मणब्रुव: । ब्राह्मगको तप, दान और वेदाध्ययन करना चाहिये। धनुष झुकाना तो क्षत्रियका काम है; अतः तुम नाममात्रके ब्राह्मण हो ।। ३३ $ ।। मिषतस्ते महाबाहो युधि जेष्यामि कौरवान्
kṣatriyeṇa dhanur nāmyaṃ sa bhavān brāhmaṇa-bruvaḥ | brāhmaṇo hi tapaḥ dānaṃ vedādhyayanaṃ ca kārayet | dhanur-namanaṃ tu kṣatriyasya karma; ataḥ tvaṃ nāma-mātra-brāhmaṇaḥ || miṣatas te mahā-bāho yudhi jeṣyāmi kauravān ||
যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে—“ধনু নমোৱা ক্ষত্ৰিয়ৰ কাম; অথচ তুমি ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ দৰে কথা কোৱা। ব্ৰাহ্মণে তপস্যা, দান আৰু বেদাধ্যয়ন কৰিব লাগে; ধনু তোলা-নমোৱা যোদ্ধাৰ ধৰ্ম। সেয়ে তুমি নামমাত্ৰ ব্ৰাহ্মণ। হে মহাবাহু! তুমি চাই থাকোঁতেই মই যুঁজত কৌৰৱসকলক জয় কৰিম।”
(युधिष्टिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts role-based dharma: brāhmaṇa ideals are austerity, charity, and Vedic study, while the bow and battlefield action belong to kṣatriya duty. It criticizes claiming a spiritual identity without living its disciplines, stressing integrity between one’s stated status and one’s conduct.
In the midst of the Karṇa Parva battle setting, Yudhiṣṭhira rebukes someone who speaks like a brāhmaṇa yet engages in warrior action (bending the bow). He then declares his resolve to defeat the Kauravas even under the other’s watch, asserting confidence and kṣatriya determination.