Shloka 6
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
प्रोवाचेद॑ वच: काले तदा धर्मभूतां वर: । आमन्त्र्य वदतां श्रेष्ठो भीम॑ प्रहरतां वरम्,कुरुनन्दन! उस दिन माघ महीनेकी शुक्लपक्षकी द्वादशी तिथि थी। उसमें पुष्य- नक्षत्रका योग पाकर महातेजस्वी पृथ्वीपति धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने अपने समस्त भाइयों-- भीमसेन, नकुल और सहदेवको बुलवाया और प्रहार करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ भीमसेनको सम्बोधित करके वक्ताओं तथा धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिने यह समयोचित बात कही --
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
provācedaṁ vacaḥ kāle tadā dharmabhūtāṁ varaḥ |
āmantrya vadatāṁ śreṣṭho bhīmaṁ praharatāṁ varam, kurunandana |
Vaiśampāyana said: At that fitting time, the foremost among the righteous—King Yudhiṣṭhira—spoke these timely words. Having summoned Bhīma, the best of strikers, and addressing him—O joy of the Kurus—Yudhiṣṭhira, foremost among virtuous speakers, began to speak.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma-guided leadership: a righteous king speaks only at the proper time and addresses the most capable person for the task, combining ethical authority (dharma) with practical discernment (kāla, timeliness).
The narrator introduces a scene where Yudhiṣṭhira, after summoning Bhīma, begins to deliver a timely instruction. The verse functions as a transition into Yudhiṣṭhira’s counsel or command directed specifically to Bhīma.