Shloka 8
Mahāprasthānika-parva Adhyāya 2: The Northward March, Sight of Himavat and Meru, and the Sequential Falls
सहदेवस्ततो विद्वान् निपपात महीतले । त॑ चापि पतितं दृष्टवा भीमो राजानमब्रवीत्,थोड़ी देर बाद विद्वान् सहदेव भी धरतीपर गिर पड़े। उन्हें भी गिरा देख भीमसेनने राजासे पूछा--
sahadevas tato vidvān nipapāta mahītale | taṁ cāpi patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhīmo rājānam abravīt |
Kemudian Sahadeva, yang bijaksana, jatuh pula ke bumi. Melihat dia juga rebah, Bhīma berkata kepada raja (Yudhiṣṭhira) sambil menyoalnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the wise are subject to moral scrutiny on the path of renunciation: subtle self-regard—such as attachment to one’s own knowledge or excellence—can become an obstacle. The episode frames suffering and downfall not as random, but as ethically intelligible within the Mahābhārata’s moral universe.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ great departure, Sahadeva collapses and falls to the ground. Bhīma, seeing this, turns to King Yudhiṣṭhira and speaks—prompting an inquiry into the reason (the inner fault or remaining attachment) behind Sahadeva’s fall.