Mahabharata 7.141.99 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 99
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
(सूद त्वामहमाजाने मात्स्ये प्रेष्षफकारकम् ।) सूदान् भृत्यजनान् दासांस्त्वं गृहे त्वरयन् भृशम् । योग्यस्ताडयितु क्रोधाद् भोजनार्थ वृकोदर
sañjaya uvāca | (sūta tvām aham ājāne mātsye preṣyapākārakam |) sūdān bhṛtyajanān dāsāṁs tvaṁ gṛhe tvarayan bhṛśam | yogyas tāḍayituṁ krodhād bhojanārthaṁ vṛkodara ||
হে সূত! আমি তোকে ভালোই চিনি—মৎস্যরাজ্যে তুই ছদ্মবেশে চাকর হয়ে রাঁধুনি ছিলি। হে বৃকোদর! ঘরে রাঁধুনি, ভৃত্য আর দাসদের খাবার তাড়াতাড়ি বানাতে তাগাদা দিয়ে, রাগে তাদের ধমকানো ও মারধর করারই তোর যোগ্যতা।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how harsh speech and anger can be used to belittle someone by reducing them to a lower social role, contrasting true worth with outward occupation. Ethically, it warns that contempt and rage—especially toward dependents—are forms of adharma, even when spoken as taunt or provocation.
Sañjaya reports a taunting remark aimed at Vṛkodara (Bhīma), recalling his year of concealment in the Matsya court where he served as a cook. The speaker mocks Bhīma as someone suited to bullying household staff to hurry food, using his past disguise to insult him amid the tensions of the Kurukṣetra war.
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