Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 41
द्रौपदी-भीमसेनसंवादः
Draupadī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Suffering, Kāla, and Daiva
त॑ दृष्टवा व्यापृतं गोषु वत्सचर्मक्षपाशयम् । सहदेवं युधां श्रेष्ठ कि नु जीवामि पाण्डव
taṁ dṛṣṭvā vyāpṛtaṁ goṣu vatsacarmakṣapāśayam | sahadevaṁ yudhāṁ śreṣṭha ki nu jīvāmi pāṇḍava pāṇḍunandana ||
“പാണ്ഡുനന്ദനാ! യോദ്ധാക്കളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ സഹദേവനെ ഞാൻ പശുസേവയിൽ മുഴുകിയവനായി, രാത്രിയിൽ കിടാവിന്റെ തൊലിയിൽ കിടന്നുറങ്ങുന്നതായി കാണുമ്പോൾ—ഞാൻ എന്തിനാണ് ജീവിക്കുക?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between inner worth and outer role: dharma may require enduring humiliation or reversal of status (a warrior serving cattle) to keep a larger vow and protect a greater good. True nobility is shown by steadfastness under constraint, not merely by public honor.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Sahadeva is seen engaged in cattle-service and sleeping on calf-skins at night. The speaker (in lament) reacts with grief at seeing a renowned warrior reduced to such a life, questioning the value of continuing to live.