Shloka 18
मृगस्वप्नदर्शनम्
The Deer’s Dream-Appeal and the Move to Kāmyaka
अथासौ मृदुयुद्धेन न मुड्चेद् भीम कौरवान् । सर्वोपायैर्विमोच्यास्ते निगृह्ु परिपन्थिन:,“भीम! यदि कोमलतापूर्ण युद्धसे भी वह कौरवोंको न छोड़े तो तुम सभी उपायोंसे उन लुटेरे गन्धर्वोकोी कैद करके कौरवोंको छुड़ाना
athāsau mṛduyuddhena na muñced bhīma kauravān | sarvopāyair vimocyās te nigṛhya paripanthinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh Bhīma, si no libera a los Kauravas ni siquiera tras un enfrentamiento moderado, entonces, por todos los medios posibles, debes apresar y sujetar a esos Gandharvas, como salteadores de caminos, y así liberar a los Kauravas».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Begin with restraint and minimal harm, but if wrongdoing persists and people must be protected, employ all appropriate means to restrain aggressors and secure release—force is justified when governed by dharma and aimed at rescue rather than vengeance.
Vaiśampāyana advises Bhīma that if the captors (Gandharvas, described as paripanthins) do not release the Kauravas even after a mild confrontation, Bhīma should capture and subdue them by every strategy and thereby free the Kauravas.