Shloka 22
Kṛṣṇa at Duryodhana’s House: Refusal of Hospitality and Departure to Vidura (कृष्णस्य धार्तराष्ट्रनिवेशनगमनम्)
यः स नागायुतप्राणो वातरंहा महाबल: । सामर्ष: पाण्डवो नित्यं प्रियो भ्रातु: प्रियंकर:
yaḥ sa nāgāyutaprāṇo vātaraṃhā mahābalaḥ | sāmarṣaḥ pāṇḍavo nityaṃ priyo bhrātuḥ priyaṃkaraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Pāṇḍava itu—Bhīma—yang daya hidupnya disamakan dengan sepuluh ribu gajah, yang terjangan lajunya seperti angin, yang mahaperkasa; yang meski tabiatnya keras dan mudah tersulut, tetap selalu dikasihi saudaranya dan senantiasa berusaha melakukan apa yang menyenangkan hati sang kakak—kabarkanlah tentang dia. Bagaimanakah Bhīmasena kini, putraku yang kedua, pangeran Pāṇḍu yang lengannya kukuh laksana gada besi?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior ideal tempered by ethics: immense power and fierce temperament are praised, yet the highest virtue shown is loyalty and disciplined obedience to an elder brother—strength governed by restraint.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Bhīma is being described through exalted epithets—elephant-like strength and wind-like speed—while emphasizing that despite his fiery nature he remains devoted to his brother’s wishes; the speaker asks for news of Bhīma’s present condition.