Shloka 34
Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
दुर्योधनस्यथ भीमेन मृद्यमानं शिर: पदा । उपप्रेक्षसि कस्मात् त्वं धर्मज्ञ: सन्नराधिप
duryodhanasya atha bhīmena mṛdyamānaṃ śiraḥ padā | upaprekṣasi kasmāt tvaṃ dharmajñaḥ sann arādhipa ||
Saat kepala Duryodhana diremukkan di bawah telapak kaki Bhīma, mengapa engkau hanya berdiri dan menonton, wahai raja? Engkau adalah orang yang mengetahui dharma; bagaimana mungkin dari sedekat itu engkau diam menyaksikan serangan atas musuh yang telah jatuh dan tak berdaya, tanpa menahannya?
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma imposes limits: harming a fallen, helpless opponent is condemned, and a dharma-knower bears responsibility not to silently permit wrongdoing. The verse presses the ethical duty of restraint and moral intervention, not mere spectatorship.
After Duryodhana has been brought down and is incapacitated, Bhīma presses his foot upon Duryodhana’s head. Vāyudeva addresses Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), questioning why he stands nearby and watches despite knowing dharma, implying that such an act violates proper conduct toward a defeated foe.