Shloka 22
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproof and Vow-Logic: On Dice-Deception, Exile Terms, and the Governance of Anger
Adhyāya 35
धार्तराष्ट्रानू महाराज क्षमसे किं दुरात्मन: । कर्तव्ये पुरुषव्याप्र किमास्से पीठसर्पवत्
dhārtarāṣṭrānū mahārāja kṣamase kiṃ durātmanaḥ | kartavye puruṣavyāghra kim āsse pīṭhasarpavat ||
Bhimasena berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, mengapa engkau terus mengampuni putra-putra Dhritarashtra yang berhati jahat itu? Wahai harimau di antara manusia, ketika kewajiban menuntut tindakan, mengapa engkau duduk tak bergerak—laksana ular yang melingkar di atas tempatnya?”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts excessive forbearance with timely duty: forgiveness is a virtue, but when injustice persists and decisive action is required, continued passivity becomes a failure of responsibility.
Bhīma challenges Yudhiṣṭhira’s continued patience toward the Kauravas, urging him to act rather than remain inactive, using the image of a coiled serpent to criticize dangerous inaction.