Shloka 17
ततः स गुर्वी यमदण्डकल्पां महागदां काञ्चनपट्टनद्धाम् । प्रगृह्दा तानभ्यपत॒त् तरस्वी ततोड<ब्रवीत् तिष्ठत तिष्ठतेति,तब भीमसेनने यमदण्डके समान विशाल और भारी गदा उठा ली, जिसपर सोनेका पत्र मढ़ा हुआ था। उसे लेकर वे बड़े वेगसे उन राक्षसोंपर टूट पड़े और ललकारते हुए बोले -- खड़े रहो, खड़े रहो”
tataḥ sa gurvīṃ yamadaṇḍa-kalpāṃ mahā-gadāṃ kāñcana-paṭṭa-naddhām | pragṛhya tān abhyapatat tarasvī tato ’bravīt tiṣṭhata tiṣṭhateti ||
Then Bhīmasena seized a massive, weighty mace—like Yama’s staff of punishment—bound with golden plating. With fierce speed he rushed straight at those rākṣasas and, challenging them, cried out: “Stand your ground! Stand!” The scene underscores righteous courage: when violent forces threaten the vulnerable, strength is to be wielded decisively, not for cruelty, but to restrain wrongdoing.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power is ethically justified when used to check adharma: Bhīma’s fearsome strength is presented as disciplined, protective force—meant to stop violent aggressors rather than to indulge anger or cruelty.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīmasena picks up a huge, gold-bound mace likened to Yama’s punitive staff, charges at the rākṣasas with great speed, and challenges them loudly to stand and face him.