Shloka 8
भीमस्य बल्लव-प्रतिज्ञा तथा अर्जुनस्य बृहन्नडा-रूप-निर्णयः
Bhīma’s Ballava Vow and Arjuna’s Decision to Become Bṛhannadā
न त्वेतान् युद्धयमानान् वै हनिष्यामि कथजठ्चन । तथैतान् पातयिष्यामि यथा यास्यन्ति न क्षयम्,परंतु कुश्ती करनेवाले इन पहलवानोंको मैं किसी प्रकार जानसे नहीं मारूँगा; अपितु इस प्रकार नीचे गिराऊँगा, जिससे उनकी मृत्यु न हो
na tv etān yuddhayamānān vai haniṣyāmi kathañcana | tathaitān pātayiṣyāmi yathā yāsyanti na kṣayam ||
Bhīmasena said: “I will not, in any way, kill these wrestlers while they are fighting. Rather, I shall throw them down in such a manner that they do not meet destruction (death).”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a contest that resembles battle, strength should be governed by restraint and dharma: Bhīma resolves to subdue opponents without taking life, choosing control over lethal violence.
In the Virāṭa court context, Bhīma (in disguise as a cook/wrestler) speaks about how he will handle the palace wrestlers—he will defeat and throw them down, but deliberately avoid killing them.