Shloka 71
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
त॑ हीयमानं विज्ञाय भीमसेनो महाबल: । वक्षस्यानीय वेगेन ममर्देनं विचेतसम्,महाबली भीमसेन उसे निर्बल एवं अचेत होते देख उसकी छातीपर चढ़ बैठे और बड़े वेगसे उसे रौंदने लगे
taṁ hīyamānaṁ vijñāya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | vakṣasy ānīya vegena mamarda enaṁ vicetasam ||
Seeing him weakening, the mighty Bhīmasena understood his failing strength. With a sudden rush he mounted his chest and crushed him forcefully, leaving him senseless—an act of overpowering physical dominance in the heat of combat rather than a moment of deliberative restraint.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the intensity of battle, strength and tactical decisiveness can override gentler restraint; it implicitly raises the ethical tension between necessary force in combat and the ideal of measured conduct.
Bhīma notices his opponent is weakening; he quickly climbs onto the man’s chest and crushes him with force, rendering him unconscious.