Shloka 9
धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala
“नरेश्वर! क्षत्रियोंका यह धर्म प्राय: ऐसा ही है। भीमसेन युद्ध और क्षत्रिय-धर्ममें प्राय: निरत रहते हैं ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | nareśvara kṣatriyāṇāṃ eṣa dharmaḥ prāyaśa evaṃvidhaḥ | bhīmasenaḥ yuddhe ca kṣatriya-dharme ca prāyaśo nirataḥ | vṛkodara-kṛte cāham arjunaś ca punaḥ punaḥ | prasīda yāce nṛpate bhavān prabhur ihāsti yat | bhīmasenasya kaṭa-vyavahāra-nimittaṃ mayā ca arjunena ca punaḥ punaḥ kṣamā yācyate | nareśvara prasīda | mama yad iha kiṃcid asti tasya svāmī bhavān eva |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, begitulah pada umumnya dharma para kṣatriya. Bhīmasena (Vṛkodara) hampir sentiasa tenggelam dalam peperangan dan kewajipan golongan pahlawan. Maka, kerana Vṛkodara, Arjuna dan aku berulang kali memohon keampunan tuanku. Berkenanlah, wahai pemerintah; apa jua yang kumiliki di sini, tuankulah pemiliknya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Bhīma’s harshness as a common trait of the warrior temperament, yet insists that social harmony requires humility and repeated requests for forgiveness. It balances kṣatriya-dharma (martial duty) with ethical restraint and respect for authority.
The speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) addresses a king, explaining that Bhīma is habitually battle-minded and thus can behave roughly. To prevent offense and restore goodwill, the speaker and Arjuna repeatedly apologize on Bhīma’s behalf and submit themselves and their possessions to the king’s authority.