Shloka 91
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
आर्यामड्केन वामेन राजानं दक्षिणेन च | अंसयोश्व यमौ कृत्वा पृष्ठे बीभत्सुमेव च,ऐसा कहकर पराक्रमी एवं बलवान् भीमने आर्या कुन्तीको बायें अंकमें, धर्मराजको दाहिने अंकमें, नकुल और सहदेवको दोनों कंधोंपर तथा अर्जुनको पीठपर चढ़ा लिया और सबको लिये-दिये सहसा वेगसे उछलकर इन्होंने उस भयंकर अग्निसे भाइयों तथा माताकी रक्षा की-
āryām aṅkena vāmena rājānaṃ dakṣiṇena ca | aṃsayoś ca yamau kṛtvā pṛṣṭhe bībhatsum eva ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Placing noble Kuntī on his left hip and King Yudhiṣṭhira on his right, setting the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva upon his shoulders, and lifting Arjuna onto his back, the mighty Bhīma sprang forward with sudden speed, shielding his brothers and their mother from the dreadful fire. The scene highlights protective duty and familial responsibility—strength employed not for domination, but for safeguarding those entrusted to one’s care.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and prowess are ethically meaningful when used in service of dharma—here, Bhīma’s strength becomes protective responsibility toward mother and brothers, embodying guardianship and selfless action.
In a moment of danger from a fierce fire, Bhīma physically carries Kuntī, Yudhiṣṭhira, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Arjuna—arranging them on hip, shoulders, and back—and leaps away swiftly to save them.