Shloka 41
बक-राक्षसस्य आह्वानम् तथा वृक्षयुद्धम्
Summons of Baka and the Tree-Weapon Engagement
धर्मात्मा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ: पापाचार युधिष्ठिर: । एवमुक््त्वा महाबाहु: क्रोधसंदीप्तमानस:,'ओ दुर्बुद्धि अल्पदर्शी धृतराष्ट्रकुमार दुर्योधन! आज तेरी कामना पूरी हुई। निश्चय ही देवता तुझपर प्रसन्न हैं। तभी तो राजा युधिष्ठिर मुझे तेरा वध करनेकी आज्ञा नहीं दे रहे हैं। दुर्मती! यही कारण है कि तू अबतक जी रहा है। रे पापाचारी! मैं आज ही जाकर कुपित हो मन्त्रियों, कर्ण, छोटे भाई और शकुनिसहित तुझे यमलोक भेज सकता हूँ। किंतु क्या करूँ, पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिर तुझपर कोप नहीं कर रहे हैं'। यों कहकर महाबाहु भीम मन-ही-मन क्रोधसे जलते और हाथ-से-हाथ मलते हुए दीनभावसे लंबी साँसें खींचने लगे। बुझी हुई लपटोंवाली अग्निकी भाँति दीनहृदय होकर वे पुनः धरतीपर सोये हुए भाइयोंकी ओर देखने लगे। उनके वे सभी भाई साधारण लोगोंकी भाँति भूमिधर ही निश्चिन्ततापूर्वक सो रहे थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
dharmātmā pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ pāpācāra yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ krodhasaṃdīptamānasaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost of the Pāṇḍavas, is righteous by nature—yet (in this moment) he is spoken of as one whose conduct is sinful (for restraining rightful punishment).” Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Bhīma, his mind inflamed with anger, continued to burn inwardly. He condemned Duryodhana as foolish and short-sighted, declaring that Duryodhana’s wish had been fulfilled only because Yudhiṣṭhira would not permit his killing. Bhīma insisted he could, even now, send Duryodhana to Yama’s realm together with his counselors, Karṇa, his younger brothers, and Śakuni—yet he was held back by Yudhiṣṭhira’s refusal to rage against him. Saying this, Bhīma, seething within and rubbing his hands, sighed long in helplessness; like a fire whose flames have been smothered, he looked again at his brothers lying on the ground, sleeping calmly like ordinary men.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a central Mahābhārata tension: righteous restraint (dharma as self-control and adherence to a leader’s command) versus the impulse to enact immediate retribution. Bhīma’s fury represents kṣatriya justice and protective zeal, while Yudhiṣṭhira’s refusal to authorize killing underscores commitment to restraint and lawful conduct even when vengeance seems justified.
Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma’s anger after confronting Duryodhana. Bhīma denounces Duryodhana and claims he could kill him along with his allies (Karṇa, Śakuni, and others), but he is prevented because Yudhiṣṭhira will not permit it. Bhīma then vents inwardly—rubbing his hands, sighing—and looks back at his brothers sleeping peacefully on the ground.