Shloka 72
मैत्रेयागमनम् — The Arrival of Maitreya and the Admonition to Duryodhana
भीमबाहुबलोप्पिष्टे विनष्टे राक्षसे ततः । विविशुस्ते वन॑ वीरा: क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम्,भीमसेनके बाहुबलसे पिसकर जब वह राक्षस नष्ट हो गया, तब उस अकण्टक एवं कल्याणमय वनमें उन सभी वीरोंने प्रवेश किया
bhīmabāhubaloppiṣṭe vinaṣṭe rākṣase tataḥ | viviśus te vanaṃ vīrāḥ kṣemaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam ||
When the rākṣasa had been crushed and destroyed by the strength of Bhīma’s arms, then those heroes entered the forest—now safe and free of thorns (i.e., dangers), a place of well-being.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse conveys that when a harmful aggressor is removed, the path becomes 'nihata-kaṇṭaka'—free of thorns—so that the righteous may proceed in safety (kṣema). It frames strength as ethically meaningful when used to eliminate threats and restore communal well-being.
After Bhīma crushes and destroys a rākṣasa with his arm-strength, the heroes enter the forest, now described as safe and unobstructed—no longer troubled by the 'thorn' of that menace.