Shloka 24
Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)
एवं स धारतराष्ट्रां क्ष स्पर्धभानो वृकोदर: । अप्रियेडतिष्ठदत्यन्तं बाल्यान्न द्रोहचेतसा
evaṃ sa dhārtarāṣṭrāṃś ca spardhamāno vṛkodaraḥ | apriyeṣv atiṣṭhad atyantaṃ bālyān na drohacetasā ||
Demikianlah Vṛkodara (Bhīma), sambil bersaing dengan putra-putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra, dengan keras kepala terus melakukan hal-hal yang sangat tidak menyenangkan bagi mereka. Namun pikirannya tidak diliputi niat jahat terhadap para Kaurava; ia berbuat demikian semata karena sifat kanak-kanak, bukan karena maksud mencelakai.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes outwardly harsh or provocative behavior from inner intention: ethical judgment should consider whether an act arises from malice (droha) or from immaturity (bālya).
Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma’s boyhood conduct among the Kauravas: he often engaged in rivalry and did things they disliked, but this was not driven by hatred—rather, it was the impulsiveness of youth.