Shloka 20
स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः
Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct
शिक्षयाभ्यधिकं ज्ञात्वा चरन्तं बहुधा रणे । अधो नाभ्या: प्रह्चतवांस्तन्मे कोपमवर्धयत्,परंतु महामना भीमसेनने गदायुद्धके लिये दुर्योधनको बुलाकर श्रीकृष्णके देखते-देखते उसके प्रति जो बर्ताव किया है, वह मुझे अच्छा नहीं लगा। वह रणभूमिमें अनेक प्रकारके पैंतरे दिखाता हुआ विचर रहा था; अतः शिक्षामें उसे अपनेसे अधिक जान भीमने जो उसकी नाभिसे नीचे प्रहार किया, इनके इसी बर्तावने मेरे क्रोधको बढ़ा दिया है
śikṣayābhyadhikaṃ jñātvā carantaṃ bahudhā raṇe | adho nābhyāḥ prahṛtavāṃs tan me kopam avardhayat |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Seeing him moving about on the battlefield in many ways, and knowing him to be superior in training, Bhīma struck him below the navel. That act has increased my anger.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, conduct is judged against accepted rules (dharma). A victory gained by violating the understood code—here, striking below the navel in a mace-fight—invites moral censure and inner turmoil, showing that ends do not automatically justify means.
The narrator reports indignation at Bhīma’s blow against Duryodhana below the navel during the mace duel. Duryodhana is described as maneuvering skillfully on the battlefield, and the blow is presented as a rule-breaking act that provokes anger and ethical disapproval.