Shloka 47
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
भीमसेन उवाच दिष्ट्या त्वं दर्शनीयो5थ दिष्ट्या55त्मानं प्रशंससि । ईदृशस्तु त्वया स्पर्श: स्पृष्टपूर्वो न कहिचित्
bhīmasena uvāca diṣṭyā tvaṁ darśanīyo ’tha diṣṭyā ’tmānaṁ praśaṁsasi | īdṛśas tu tvayā sparśaḥ spṛṣṭapūrvo na kaścit ||
Bhīmasena sagte: „Wahrlich, ein Glück: Du bist sehenswert; und ein Glück auch, dass du dich selbst lobst. Doch eine Berührung wie die, die du gegeben hast, hat zuvor noch niemand erfahren.“
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between self-praise and deserved respect: boasting invites a response, and Bhīma’s words imply that arrogance can be met with consequences. It also reflects the kṣatriya ethos of answering provocation with a fitting challenge.
Bhīma addresses an opponent who has presented himself proudly. With pointed irony, Bhīma remarks that the person is ‘fortunate’ to be seen and to praise himself, but warns that the kind of ‘touch’ (i.e., forceful contact/handling) Bhīma has delivered is unprecedented—signaling intimidation and imminent overpowering.