Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61
ददावथ विषं पापो भीमाय धृतराष्ट्रज: । जरयामास तद् वीर: सहान्तेन वृकोदर:,उस पापी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्ने भीमसेनको विष दे दिया, किंतु वीरवर भीमसेनने भोजनके साथ उस विषको भी पचा लिया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
dadāva tha viṣaṃ pāpo bhīmāya dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ |
jarayāmāsa tad vīraḥ sahāntena vṛkodaraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Der ruchlose Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras gab Bhīma Gift; doch der heldenhafte Vṛkodara verdautе es zusammen mit seiner Speise, ohne Schaden zu nehmen.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how adharma expresses itself through covert harm and deceit, while true strength includes endurance and moral contrast: the aggressor’s wickedness is exposed, and the victim’s extraordinary fortitude becomes evident.
A son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra administers poison to Bhīma, intending to kill him; however, Bhīma (Vṛkodara) digests the poison along with his food, surviving the treacherous attempt.