Shloka 36
हत्वा वा मां नयस्वैनां हतो वाद्येह स्वप्स्यसि । तदा ब्रुवति माद्रेये भीमसेनो यदृच्छया,“भारत! हम विजयी हों या मारे जाय, सभी दशाओंमें उत्तम गति प्राप्त कर सकते हैं। यदि इस राक्षसके जीते-जी सूर्य डूब गये, तो मैं फिर कभी अपनेको क्षत्रिय नहीं कहूँगा। अरे ओ निशाचर! खड़ा रह, मैं पाण्डुकुमार सहदेव हूँ, या तो तू मुझे मारकर द्रौपदीको ले जा या स्वयं मेरे हाथों मारा जाकर आज यहीं सदाके लिये सो जा।' माद्रीनन्दन सहदेव जब ऐसी बात कह रहे थे, उसी समय अकस्मात् गदा हाथमें लिये भीमसेन दिखायी दिये, मानो वज्रधारी इन्द्र आ पहुँचे हों। उन्होंने वहाँ (राक्षसके अधिकारमें पड़े हुए) अपने दोनों भाइयों तथा यशस्विनी द्रौपदीको देखा
hatvā vā māṃ nayasvaināṃ hato vā'dyeha svapsyasi | tadā bruvati mādreye bhīmaseno yadṛcchayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Either kill me and take her away, or, if you are slain, you will sleep here today.” As Madreyā’s son (Sahadeva) spoke these defiant words—staking his honor as a kṣatriya on not allowing the sun to set while the rākṣasa still prevailed—Bhīmasena suddenly appeared by chance, mace in hand, like Indra bearing the thunderbolt. There he beheld his two brothers and the illustrious Draupadī held under the rākṣasa’s power. The passage frames courage and protection of the vulnerable as a dharmic imperative: better death than complicity in dishonor and injustice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: one must resist injustice and protect those under threat, valuing honor and righteous action over mere survival. Ethical resolve is shown in Sahadeva’s willingness to die rather than accept disgrace or allow wrongdoing to stand.
Sahadeva confronts a rākṣasa holding Draupadī and issues an ultimatum—either the demon kills him and takes her, or the demon will be slain and lie there. At that moment Bhīma unexpectedly arrives with a mace, likened to Indra, and sees his brothers and Draupadī in the demon’s control.