Shloka 20
धार्मिको भीमसेनो<सावित्याहुस्त्वां पुरा जना: । स कस्माद् भीमसेन त्वं राजानमधितिष्ठसि,“तुम्हारे विषयमें लोग पहले कहा करते थे कि भीमसेन बड़े धर्मात्मा हैं। भीम! वही तुम आज राजा दुर्योधनको क्यों पैरसे ठुकराते हो?”
dhārmiko bhīmaseno ’sāv ity āhus tvāṃ purā janāḥ | sa kasmād bhīmasena tvaṃ rājānam adhitiṣṭhasi ||
Sañjaya said: “People once used to say of you, ‘This Bhīmasena is truly righteous.’ If so, Bhīmasena, why do you now trample upon the king (Duryodhana)?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between one’s reputation for dharma and actions taken in the heat of war, questioning whether humiliating or excessive violence against a fallen foe can be reconciled with righteousness.
In the aftermath of the climactic duel, Bhima is depicted as standing over/pressing upon the defeated Duryodhana; Sanjaya reports that people once praised Bhima as righteous and now question why he treats the fallen king in this manner.