Shloka 1
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५६ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन--माजल बक। अकाल अष्टषष्टितमो< ध्याय: भीमसेनका क्रोध एवं अर्जुनका उन्हें शान्त करना
bhīma uvāca | bhavanti gehe bandhakyaḥ kitavānāṃ yudhiṣṭhira | na tābhir uta dīvyanti dayā caivāsti tāsva api ||
Bhima berkata: “Yudhiṣṭhira, bahkan di rumah para penjudi sering ada perempuan yang hidupnya longgar; namun mereka pun tidak berjudi dengan mempertaruhkan mereka. Kepada perempuan seperti itu pun masih tersisa sedikit belas kasih. Lalu bagaimana mungkin engkau membiarkan Draupadī—istri sahmu—dijadikan taruhan?”
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhima argues from basic ethical restraint: even morally compromised gamblers do not stake women as gambling objects, and still feel some compassion toward them. Therefore, wagering a lawful wife violates dharma and human decency, and the assembly should recognize the injustice.
In the aftermath of the dice game, Bhima addresses Yudhiṣṭhira with anger and moral outrage, condemning the very idea of treating a woman—implicitly Draupadī—as a stake. His words intensify the ethical crisis in the royal hall and foreshadow the confrontation over Draupadī’s humiliation.