Shloka 59
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
भीम उवाच जीवितु चेच्छसे मूढ हेतुं मे गदत: शृणु । दासोस्मीति त्वया वाच्यं संसत्सु च सभासु च,भीमसेनने कहा--मूर्ख! यदि तू जीवित रहना चाहता है, तो उसका उपाय बताता हूँ; मेरी बात सुन। तुझे संसदों और सभाओंमें जाकर सदा यही कहना होगा कि “मैं राजा विराटका दास हूँ"
bhīma uvāca jīvituṁ cecchase mūḍha hetuṁ me gadataḥ śṛṇu | dāso'smīti tvayā vācyaṁ saṁsatsu ca sabhāsu ca ||
Dijo Bhima: «¡Necio! Si deseas conservar la vida, escucha el medio que te indico. En las asambleas y reuniones públicas deberás declarar: “Soy un siervo”» (es decir, aceptar abiertamente la condición de servidumbre como precio para ser perdonado).
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how speech and public self-identification can be used as instruments of power: survival is made conditional on accepting a socially inferior status. Ethically, it exposes coercion and the use of humiliation as control, contrasting force with dignity.
Bhima addresses someone he has subdued or is threatening. He dictates the condition for sparing the person’s life: the person must publicly proclaim himself a servant in assemblies and courts, thereby acknowledging subordination.