Shloka 16
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
“जब तुम वनमें चले गये थे, उन दिनों तेरह वर्षोतक अपने पुत्रके अधीन रहनेवाले विशाल राज्यका इन्होंने उपभोग किया और नाना प्रकारके धन दिये हैं ।।
tvayā cāyaṃ naravyāghra guruśuśrūṣayānagha | ārādhitaḥ sabhṛtyena gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Ketika engkau pergi ke hutan, ia menikmati dan mengelola kerajaan luas yang berada dalam garis putranya selama tiga belas tahun, serta menganugerahkan harta dalam berbagai bentuk. Dan engkau pun, wahai harimau di antara manusia, wahai yang tak bernoda—bersama para pengiringmu—telah menghormatinya dengan semangat bakti melayani para sesepuh; demikian pula engkau memberi hormat yang patut kepada permaisuri termasyhur, Gāndhārī.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as respectful service to elders—approaching them with the attitude of guru-sevā, not merely political obligation. Ethical excellence is shown through reverence, humility, and care, extended even to those connected with former adversaries.
Vaiśampāyana recalls how the addressed hero (contextually a Pāṇḍava, especially Yudhiṣṭhira) honored and attended upon the elder king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and also revered Queen Gāndhārī, doing so along with his attendants—emphasizing continued duty and reconciliation in the post-war forest-dwelling phase.