Shloka 99
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
(सूद त्वामहमाजाने मात्स्ये प्रेष्षफकारकम् ।) सूदान् भृत्यजनान् दासांस्त्वं गृहे त्वरयन् भृशम् । योग्यस्ताडयितु क्रोधाद् भोजनार्थ वृकोदर,“मैं तुझे अच्छी तरह जानता हूँ। तू मत्स्यराज विराटका नौकर एक रसोइया रहा है। वृकोदर! तू तो घरमें रसोइयों, भृत्यजनों तथा दासोंको बहुत जल्दी भोजन तैयार करनेके लिये प्रेरणा देते हुए क्रोधसे उन्हें डॉँटने और मारने-पीटनेकी योग्यता रखता है
sañjaya uvāca | (sūta tvām aham ājāne mātsye preṣyapākārakam |) sūdān bhṛtyajanān dāsāṁs tvaṁ gṛhe tvarayan bhṛśam | yogyas tāḍayituṁ krodhād bhojanārthaṁ vṛkodara ||
サンジャヤは言った。「御者よ、私はお前をよく知っている——お前はかつてマツヤ国で身を隠し、料理人として仕えた。ヴリコーダラよ、家の中では、料理人や召使いや奴隷どもに食事の支度を急がせ、怒りにまかせて叱りつけ、時に打ち据えるのがせいぜい似合う男だ。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how harsh speech and anger can be used to belittle someone by reducing them to a lower social role, contrasting true worth with outward occupation. Ethically, it warns that contempt and rage—especially toward dependents—are forms of adharma, even when spoken as taunt or provocation.
Sañjaya reports a taunting remark aimed at Vṛkodara (Bhīma), recalling his year of concealment in the Matsya court where he served as a cook. The speaker mocks Bhīma as someone suited to bullying household staff to hurry food, using his past disguise to insult him amid the tensions of the Kurukṣetra war.