Shloka 186
Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)
हस्तं हस्तेन निष्पिष्य उलूकं॑ वाक्यमब्रवीत् | उनकी आकृति और भावको जानकर दुन्तीपुत्र वृकोदर बड़े वेगसे उठे और क्रोधसे जलते हुएके समान सहसा आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर देखते, दाँत कट-कटाते और हाथ-से-हाथ रगड़ते हुए उलूकसे इस प्रकार बोले--
hastaṃ hastena niṣpiṣya ulūkaṃ vākyam abravīt |
Sañjaya berkata: Menekan satu tangan pada tangan yang lain dalam amarah yang ditahan, Bhīma putra Kuntī bangkit dengan tiba-tiba dan cepat. Membaca sikap dan maksud Ulūka, ia menatap dengan mata terbelalak, mengertakkan gigi, dan—seakan terbakar oleh api murka—menggosok kedua telapak tangannya, lalu berkata kepada Ulūka dengan kata-kata ini, sebagaimana layak bagi dharma seorang ksatria.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between restraint and righteous response: provocative or dishonorable speech (especially from an envoy) can inflame conflict, yet a warrior’s dharma also demands firmness against insult and intimidation. It frames anger as a powerful force that must be directed toward duty rather than uncontrolled violence.
After hearing Ulūka’s message and recognizing his hostile intent, Bhīma reacts physically—rising abruptly, staring fiercely, grinding his teeth, and rubbing his hands—then begins to reply to Ulūka. The scene sets up Bhīma’s verbal counter to the Kaurava envoy’s taunts and escalates the pre-war confrontation.