Shloka 19
Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls
तस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याप्रे पतिते शक्रतेजसि । ग्रियमाणे दुराधर्षे भीमो राजानमब्रवीत्,इन्द्रके समान तेजस्वी दुर्धर्ष वीर पुरुषसिंह अर्जुन जब पृथ्वीपर गिरकर प्राणत्याग करने लगे उस समय भीमसेनने राजा युधिष्ठिरसे पूछा
tasmiṃstu puruṣavyāpre patite śakratejasi | gṛhyamāṇe durādharṣe bhīmo rājānam abravīt ||
ഇന്ദ്രസമമായ തേജസ്സോടെ ദീപ്തനായ, അജയ്യനായ വീരപുരുഷസിംഹൻ അർജുനൻ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു അന്തിമഘട്ടത്തിലേക്ക് നീങ്ങുമ്പോൾ, ഭീമസേനൻ രാജാവ് യുധിഷ്ഠിരനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most exalted hero can fall; the episode presses the ethical question of why suffering befalls the virtuous and how one should respond—without attachment, with discernment about karma and dharma, and with steadiness in the face of death.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ final journey, Arjuna collapses and approaches death. Bhīma, shaken by the fall of the Indra-like warrior, turns to King Yudhiṣṭhira to ask the reason—setting up an explanation tied to conduct, vows, and the subtle workings of dharma.