Shloka 23
Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा प्रस्थितो राजा भीमो5थ निपपात ह । पतितश्चाब्रवीद् भीमो धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktvā prasthito rājā bhīmo 'tha nipapāta ha | patitaś cābravīd bhīmo dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram |
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Tras decir esto, el rey Yudhiṣṭhira prosiguió su marcha. Entonces Bhīma cayó de pronto al suelo. Ya caído, Bhīma llamó a Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira y le preguntó la causa de su desplome, mientras el ajuste moral del viaje comenzaba a revelarse.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse initiates the ethical unraveling of the great journey: even the mightiest can fall when subtle moral residues remain. It frames the Mahāprasthāna as a test where inner dharma, not external power, determines who can continue.
After Yudhiṣṭhira proceeds onward, Bhīma suddenly collapses. While fallen, he calls out to Yudhiṣṭhira and speaks—setting up the forthcoming explanation of the moral cause behind his fall.