Shloka 38
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
न सव्यसाची भीमो वा यमौ वा पुरुषर्षभौ | कर्णो वा सत्यवाक् शूरो नरकार्ह श्चिरं नृप
na savyasācī bhīmo vā yamau vā puruṣarṣabhau | karṇo vā satyavāk śūro narakārhaś ciraṃ nṛpa ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Bukan Savyasācī (Arjuna), bukan Bhīma, bukan pula kedua putera kembar (Nakula dan Sahadeva)—para insan terunggul—dan bukan juga Karṇa, pahlawan yang berkata benar, wahai raja; tiada seorang pun daripada mereka layak tinggal di neraka untuk waktu yang lama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even great heroes may briefly experience the consequences of moral complexity, but enduring merit and truthfulness prevent prolonged suffering; the narrative underscores karma’s precision and the ultimate vindication of dharma.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the king that Arjuna, Bhīma, the twins, and Karṇa did not remain in hell for long—implying their stay was temporary and not their final destiny.