Shloka 22
Adhyaya 11 — Draupadī’s Grief, Demand for Justice, and Bhīma’s Departure
भीमसेनमथागत्य परम वाक्यमब्रवीत् | त्रातुमहसि मां भीम क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्,पाणए्डुपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरसे ऐसा कहकर सुन्दरी कृष्णा भीमसेनके पास आयी और यह उत्तम वचन बोली--'प्रिय भीम! आप क्षत्रिय-धर्मका स्मरण करके मेरे जीवनकी रक्षा कर सकते हैं
bhīmasenam athāgatya parama-vākyam abravīt | trātum arhasi māṁ bhīma kṣatra-dharmam anusmaran |
Then she approached Bhīmasena and spoke these excellent words: “O Bhīma, remembering the duty of a kṣatriya, you ought to protect me—save my life.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṣatriya-dharma as a moral obligation: a warrior’s strength is meant for protection—especially of those seeking refuge—so ethical duty, not mere power, should guide action.
Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) approaches Bhīma and urges him to remember the warrior code and save her life, framing her request as a rightful claim upon his dharma.