Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
धनंजयवियोगाच्च राज्य भ्रंशाच्च दु:खिता: । अथ भीमो महाबाहुर्युधिष्ठटिमभाषत,पाण्डव राज्य छिन जानेसे तो दुःखी थे ही। अर्जुनके विरहसे वे और भी क्लेशमें पड़ गये थे। उस समय महाबाहु भीमने युधिष्ठिससे कहा--
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
dhanañjayaviyogācca rājya-bhraṃśācca duḥkhitāḥ |
atha bhīmo mahābāhur yudhiṣṭhiram abhāṣata ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Afligidos tanto por la separación de Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) como por la pérdida de su reino, los Pāṇḍava se hallaban en gran congoja. Entonces Bhīma, el de poderosos brazos, se dirigió a Yudhiṣṭhira—presentando su pena no como mero dolor íntimo, sino como consecuencia moral y política del despojo y del destierro.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how the loss of rightful sovereignty and separation from a key ally (Arjuna) intensify suffering; it implicitly frames political injustice and fractured unity as ethical crises that demand counsel and resolve within dharma.
In the forest-exile context, the Pāṇḍavas are distressed due to both the usurpation of their kingdom and Arjuna’s absence; at this moment Bhīma turns to speak directly to Yudhiṣṭhira, setting up counsel or a proposal in the following lines.