Shloka 22
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 23: Report of the Slain Sūtaputras, Royal Orders, and Sairandhrī’s Return
सतं वृक्ष दशव्यामं सस्कन्धविटपं बली | प्रगृह्मा भ्यद्रवत् सूतान् दण्डपाणिरिवान्तक:,शाखा-प्रशाखाओंसहित उस दस व्याम ऊँचे वृक्षको लेकर बलवान् भीम दण्डपाणि यमराजके समान उन सूतपुत्रोंकी ओर दौड़े
śataṁ vṛkṣaṁ daśavyāmaṁ saskandha-viṭapaṁ balī | pragṛhya abhyadravat sūtān daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Sang perkasa Bhīma menggenggam pohon setinggi sepuluh vyāma itu, lengkap dengan batang dan rantingnya, lalu menerjang para sūta; bagaikan Yama sang pemegang tongkat hukuman, ia melesat menyerbu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea of swift punitive force (daṇḍa) against misconduct: when arrogance or wrongdoing threatens order and dignity, decisive action—tempered by dharma—serves as a corrective. Bhīma is portrayed as an instrument of retribution, likened to Yama, emphasizing accountability for unethical behavior.
Bhīma, described as immensely strong, uproots or seizes an entire tall tree with trunk and branches and rushes toward the sūtas to strike or drive them off. The simile ‘like Antaka (Yama) with staff in hand’ intensifies the scene, presenting Bhīma as terrifying and unstoppable in that moment.