Shloka 18
Droṇotpattiḥ, Astralābhaḥ, Drupada-vairasya bījaṃ ca
The Birth of Droṇa, Acquisition of Weapons, and the Seed of Enmity with Drupada
भीम मा भैर्महाबाहो न त्वां बुध्यामहे वयम् । समेतं भीमरूपेण रक्षसा श्रमकर्शितम्,“महाबाहु भैया भीमसेन! डरना मत; अबतक हमलोग नहीं जानते थे कि तुम भयंकर राक्षससे भिड़कर अत्यन्त परिश्रमके कारण कष्ट पा रहे हो
bhīma mā bhair mahābāho na tvāṁ budhyāmahe vayam | sametaṁ bhīmarūpeṇa rakṣasā śramakarśitam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Bhīma, do not be afraid, O mighty-armed one. We did not realize until now that you had engaged in combat with a fearsome-looking rākṣasa and, worn down by exertion, were suffering from fatigue.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reinforces steadiness and reassurance in crisis: a warrior should not succumb to fear, and companions should recognize and support one another when unseen struggles and exhaustion arise.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma has been fighting a terrifying rākṣasa and is fatigued from the exertion; the speaker reassures Bhīma and notes that they had not understood his situation until now.