Shloka 84
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
आशीविषै: कृष्णसर्पैरभीमसेनमदंशयत् । सर्वेष्वेवाड्रदेशेषु न ममार च शत्रुहा,इनके सारे अंगोंमें विषैले काले सर्पोंसे डँसवाया; परंतु शत्रुहन्ता भीमसेन मर न सके
āśīviṣaiḥ kṛṣṇasarpair abhīmasenam adaṃśayat | sarveṣv evādradeśeṣu na mamāra ca śatruhā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: He had Bhīmasena bitten by venomous black serpents in every rocky tract; yet Bhīma—the slayer of foes—did not die. The episode underscores both the cruelty of treacherous harm and the extraordinary resilience that protects the righteous from unjust destruction.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deliberate, deceitful violence (adharma) may be attempted against the virtuous, yet it does not necessarily succeed; the verse highlights the moral contrast between treachery and the steadfast strength that upholds dharma.
An adversary arranges for Bhīma to be bitten by deadly black snakes across rocky regions, intending to kill him, but Bhīma survives despite the venom.