Shloka 17
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 188 — Draupadī-Vivāha Dharma-Vicāra
Debate on the Legitimacy of One Wife for Five
त॑ वृक्षमादाय रिपुप्रमाथी दण्डीव दण्डं पितृराज उग्रम् तस्थौ समीपे पुरुषर्ष भस्य पार्थस्य पार्थ: पृथुदीर्घबाहु:,फिर मोटी और विशाल भुजाओंवाले शत्रुनाशन कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेन उसी वृक्षको हाथमें लेकर भयंकर दण्ड उठाये हुए दण्डधारी यमराजकी भाँति पुरुषोत्तम अर्जुनके समीप खड़े हो गये
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | taṃ vṛkṣam ādāya ripupramāthī daṇḍīva daṇḍaṃ pitṛrāja ugram | tasthau samīpe puruṣarṣabhasya pārthasya pārthaḥ pṛthudīrghabāhuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Taking up that tree, the foe-crushing son of Pṛthā—broad and long-armed—stood close beside Pārtha (Arjuna), the bull among men, like Yama, lord of the departed, standing with his dreadful staff.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength is ethically meaningful when it is disciplined and aligned with dharma—here, Bhīma’s formidable power is presented as protective solidarity with his brother, not as uncontrolled violence.
Bhīma uproots or takes up a tree as a weapon and positions himself beside Arjuna. The poet heightens the moment with a simile: Bhīma appears like Yama holding a dreadful staff, signaling readiness to punish aggressors and defend his ally.