Shloka 98
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
क्व युद्ध॑ क्व मुनित्वं च वनं गच्छ वृकोदर । न त्वं युद्धोचितस्तात वनवासरतिर्भवान्,“वृकोदर! कहाँ युद्ध और कहाँ मुनिवृत्ति। जा, जा, वनमें चला जा। तात! तुझमें युद्धकी योग्यता नहीं है। तू तो वनवासका ही प्रेमी है
kva yuddhaṁ kva munitvaṁ ca vanaṁ gaccha vṛkodara | na tvaṁ yuddhocitas tāta vanavāsaratir bhavān ||
Sañjaya said: “What has war to do with you, and what has the life of a sage to do with you? Go—go to the forest, O Vṛkodara. Dear one, you are not fit for battle; your heart is set on living in exile.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension often exploited in epic rhetoric: a kṣatriya is expected to meet crisis with courage and duty in battle, while retreat into forest-life symbolizes withdrawal. The taunt weaponizes this contrast to question Bhīma’s warrior-identity and provoke him toward action.
In the heated context of the Kurukṣetra war, a speaker (reported by Sañjaya) mocks Vṛkodara (Bhīma), telling him that war does not suit him and that he should go back to the forest, implying he prefers exile over combat. It functions as verbal provocation and morale warfare.