Shloka 8
पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानवर्णनम् / The Pāṇḍavas’ Departure for the Forest
Vidura’s Report and Portents
वैशम्पायन उवाच भीमसेनवच: श्रुत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । युधिष्ठिरमुवाचेदं तूष्णीम्भूतमचेतनम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--भीमसेनका यह कथन सुनकर उस समय राजा दुर्योधनने मौन एवं अचेतकी-सी दशामें बैठे हुए युधिष्ठिरसे इस प्रकार कहा--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhīmasenavacaḥ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tadā | yudhiṣṭhiram uvācedaṃ tūṣṇīmbhūtam acetanam ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata Bhīmasena, pada ketika itu Raja Duryodhana pun menegur Yudhiṣṭhira—yang duduk membisu, seakan-akan hilang sedar—lalu berkata kepadanya demikian.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical contrast: the righteous may be rendered silent by shock and restraint, while the unrighteous exploit that silence to press humiliation further. It cautions that speech can be a weapon—capable of intensifying adharma when used to taunt the vulnerable.
After Bhīma speaks, Duryodhana reacts and turns to Yudhiṣṭhira, who is sitting in stunned silence. Duryodhana then begins addressing him, setting up the next lines of provocation within the royal assembly context.