Mahabharata 3.156.10 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 156, Shloka 10
Rājarṣi-samāgamaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharma-parīkṣā ca
Meeting the Royal Sage and a Dharmic Audit
पप्रच्छ भ्रातरं भीम॑ भीमकर्माणमाहवे । कच्चित् क्व भीम: पाज्चालि किंचित् कृत्यं चिकीर्षति
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | papraccha bhrātaraṃ Bhīmaṃ bhīma-karmāṇam āhave | kaccit kva Bhīmaḥ pāñcāli kiṃcit kṛtyaṃ cikīrṣati |
युधिष्ठिरांनी रणांगणात भयंकर पराक्रम करणाऱ्या आपल्या भाऊ भीमाविषयी विचारले—“पांचाली, भीम कुठे आहे? तो काही कार्य करावयास इच्छितो काय?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsible leadership and dharmic attentiveness: when a powerful agent like Bhīma is absent, Yudhiṣṭhira promptly inquires, mindful that strength should be directed toward appropriate duty (kṛtya) rather than impulsive action.
In the forest narrative of the Vana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira notices Bhīma is not present and asks Draupadī where he is and whether he is planning some undertaking, indicating concern about Bhīma’s intentions and the consequences of his actions.
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