Shloka 2
Adhyāya 129 — Public Acclaim of the Pāṇḍavas and Duryodhana’s Appeal to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
रथैर्गजैस्तथा चाश्नैयनिश्चान्यैरनेकश: । ब्रुवन्तो भीमसेनस्तु यातो हराग्रत एव नः,रथ, हाथी, घोड़े तथा अन्य अनेक प्रकारकी सवारियोंद्वारा वहाँसे चलकर वे आपसमें यह कह रहे थे कि भीमसेन तो हमलोगोंसे आगे ही चले गये हैं। पापी दुर्योधनने भीमसेनको वहाँ न देखकर अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हो भाइयोंके साथ नगरमें प्रवेश किया
rathair gajais tathā cāśvaiḥ anyaiś cānyair anekaśaḥ | bruvanto bhīmasenas tu yāto harāgrata eva naḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Traveling on chariots, elephants, horses, and many other kinds of mounts, they went on from there, saying among themselves, “Bhīmasena has gone ahead of us.” Not seeing Bhīmasena there, the sinful Duryodhana became exceedingly pleased and, together with his brothers, entered the city—revealing how malice can turn another’s apparent absence into a cause for joy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical fault: taking delight in a rival’s perceived misfortune or absence. Duryodhana’s joy at not seeing Bhīma signals envy and malice (adharma), foreshadowing harmful intentions and the moral decline that fuels conflict.
A group proceeds using various vehicles—chariots, elephants, horses—while remarking that Bhīma has gone ahead. Duryodhana, not seeing Bhīma, becomes very pleased and enters the city with his brothers, indicating that Bhīma’s absence is advantageous to him.