Shloka 24
भীমेन युधिष्ठिरस्य त्यागवृत्तेः प्रतिषेधः
Bhīma’s Rebuttal of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Renunciatory Inclination
यदि संन्यासतः सिद्धि राजा कश्चिदवाप्रुयात् पर्वताश्ष द्रुमाश्वैव क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमवाप्रुयु:,यदि कोई राजा संन्याससे सिद्धि प्राप्त कर ले, तब तो पर्वत और वृक्ष बहुत जल्दी सिद्धि पा सकते हैं
yadi saṁnyāsataḥ siddhiṁ rājā kaścid avāpnuyāt | parvatāś ca drumāś caiva kṣipraṁ siddhim avāpnuyuḥ ||
Bhima said: “If merely by taking to renunciation some king could attain spiritual perfection, then mountains and trees too would quickly attain perfection.”
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
External renunciation by itself is not a guarantee of spiritual perfection; if mere withdrawal were sufficient, even inert beings like mountains and trees would qualify. The verse points toward inner transformation—right understanding, self-control, and dharmic conduct—as essential.
Bhima voices a skeptical, practical objection within a discussion on dharma and the paths to the highest good, arguing against a simplistic claim that a ruler can attain siddhi simply by adopting renunciation.