Shloka 14
Gāndhārī’s Grief, Vyāsa’s Pacification, and the Ethics of Retaliation (गान्धारी-शोकः शमोपदेशश्च)
दिष्ट्या तु पुरुषव्याप्रो बलवान् सत्यविक्रम: । त्वद्गुप्तो नागमत् कृष्ण भीमो बाह्वन्तरं मम,“श्रीकृष्ण! सौभाग्यकी बात है कि आपसे सुरक्षित होकर बलवान सत्यपराक्रमी पुरुषसिंह भीमसेन मेरी दोनों भुजाओंके बीचमें नहीं आये
diṣṭyā tu puruṣavyāpro balavān satyavikramaḥ | tvadgupto nāgamat kṛṣṇa bhīmo bāhvantaraṁ mama ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “It is indeed fortunate. Protected by you, O Kṛṣṇa, the mighty Bhīma—lion among men, whose valor is true to its word—did not come within the reach of my arms.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of restraint and the role of wise protection: even overwhelming strength (Bhīma) is checked from harmful proximity through Kṛṣṇa’s safeguarding influence, and the speaker recognizes this as good fortune.
Vaiśampāyana reports a moment of relief: Kṛṣṇa’s protection prevents the powerful Bhīma from coming within the speaker’s physical reach (“between my arms”), implying that Kṛṣṇa averted a potentially dangerous confrontation or act.