Shloka 47
भीमोअस्तु राजा मम जीवितेन न कार्यमद्यावमतस्य वीर । इत्येवमुक्त्वा सहसोत्पपात राजा ततस्तच्छयनं विहाय
sañjaya uvāca |
bhīmo 'stu rājā mama jīvitena na kāryam adyāva-matasya vīra |
ity evam uktvā sahasotpapāta rājā tatas tacchayanaṃ vihāya ||
Sañjaya said: “Let Bhīma be king; I have no need of life today, O hero, if I am to be deemed slain.” Having spoken thus, the king sprang up at once, abandoning that couch. The utterance conveys a warrior’s ethic of honor: life is not worth clinging to when one’s martial standing is treated as already forfeited, and decisive action must follow words.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ethic: when one’s honor and martial standing are treated as already lost, mere survival is not valued; one must act decisively to uphold reputation and duty.
Sañjaya reports that the king declares he would rather concede kingship to Bhīma than live while being regarded as ‘as good as slain’; after saying this, he immediately rises, leaving his couch, signaling urgent resolve and readiness for action.