Shloka 13
Bhīmasena’s Eastern Digvijaya and the Cedi Reception
Sabhā-parva 26
उपपन्नं महाबाहो त्वयि कौरवनन्दन । पाकशासनदायादे वीर्यमाहवशोभिनि
upapannaṃ mahābāho tvayi kauravanandana | pākaśāsanadāyāde vīryam āhavśobhini, tvam īpsitaṃ pāṇḍaveya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te | yad vakṣyasi mahābāho tat kariṣyāmi putraka ||
वैशम्पायन बोले— “महाबाहु कौरवनन्दन! पाकशासन (इन्द्र) के दायाद, संग्राम में शोभा पाने वाले वीर! तुममें यह पराक्रम सर्वथा उपयुक्त है। पाण्डुनन्दन! बताओ, तुम्हारी क्या इच्छा है—मैं तुम्हारा कौन-सा प्रिय कार्य करूँ? वत्स, महाबाहो, तुम जो कहोगे वही करूँगा।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of spoken commitment: a respected elder/authority acknowledges a hero’s rightful prowess and offers unconditional assistance—showing how honor, lineage, and duty are reinforced through truthful speech and readiness to serve what is deemed proper.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a moment where a speaker addresses a Pāṇḍava as a battle-glorious heir of Indra, affirms that such valor suits him, and invites him to state his wish—promising to carry out whatever he asks.