Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
तुम उन्हें अवसर दो, जिससे ये नरेश प्राचीन राजर्षियोंके पथका अनुसरण कर सकें। समस्त राजर्षियोंने जीवनके अन्तिम भागमें वनका ही आश्रय लिया है ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca: ity uktaḥ sa tadā rājā vyāsenādbhuta-karmaṇā | pratyuvāca mahā-tejā dharma-rājo mahā-munim ||
Concededle la ocasión, para que este rey pueda seguir la senda de los antiguos reyes sabios. Todos los reyes sabios, en la última etapa de la vida, tomaron por amparo el bosque. Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Habiendo hablado así Vyāsa, de obras maravillosas, el rey—Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira, resplandeciente de gran poder espiritual—respondió entonces a aquel gran sabio de este modo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse frames a dharmic ideal: after fulfilling worldly duties, even kings may transition toward renunciation, following the precedent of ancient rājarṣis who embraced forest life in the final stage. It emphasizes timely permission and social support for ethical withdrawal from power.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that after Vyāsa—described as wondrous in deeds—speaks, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharma-rāja) responds to the great sage. The verse functions as a narrative hinge introducing Yudhiṣṭhira’s reply within the Āśramavāsika episode.