Shloka 15
स्वयमेव प्रधावेयं यदि न स्यथाद् वृकोदर । विततो मे क्रतुर्वीर न हि मेडत्र विचारणा,“वीर भीमसेन! यदि मेरा यह यज्ञ प्रारम्भ न हो गया होता तो मैं स्वयं ही दुर्योधनको छुड़ानेके लिये दौड़ा जाता। इस विषयमें मेरे लिये कोई दूसरा विचार करना उचित नहीं है
svayam eva pradhāveyam yadi na syāt tad vṛkodara | vitato me kratur vīra na hi me 'tra vicāraṇā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O mighty Bhīma (Vṛkodara), if my sacrificial rite had not already been set in motion, I would myself have run at once to secure Duryodhana’s release. In this matter, hero, there is no room for hesitation or second thoughts for me.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast resolve guided by dharma: one should act decisively to protect what is right, yet also recognize binding obligations—here, the already-commenced sacrificial rite—which ethically constrain immediate action.
The speaker addresses Bhīma (Vṛkodara), declaring that he would personally rush to free Duryodhana, but cannot do so because his yajña (kratu) has already begun; he emphasizes that his intention is firm and not subject to further deliberation.