Shloka 14
Kuntī’s Consolation to Draupadī and Lament for the Dispossessed Pandavas (सभा पर्व, अध्याय 70)
न हि मुच्येत मे जीवन् पदा भूमिमुपस्पृशन् | मर्त्यधर्मा परामृश्य पाज्चाल्या मूर्थजानिमान्,ये हमारे पुण्य, तप और प्राणोंके भी प्रभु हैं। यदि ये द्रौपदीको दाँवपर लगानेसे पूर्व अपनेको हारा हुआ नहीं मानते हैं तो हम सब लोग इनके द्वारा दाँवपर रखे जानेके कारण हारे जा चुके हैं। यदि मैं हारा गया न होता तो अपने पैरोंसे पृथ्वीका स्पर्श करनेवाला कोई भी मरणथधर्मा मनुष्य द्रौपदीके इन केशोंको छू लेनेपर मेरे हाथसे जीवित नहीं बच सकता था। राजाओ! परिघके समान मोटी और गोलाकार मेरी इन विशाल भुजाओंकी ओर तो देखो। इनके बीचमें आकर इन्द्र भी जीवित नहीं बच सकता
na hi mucyeta me jīvan padā bhūmim upaspṛśan | martyadharmā parāmṛśya pāñcālyā mūrdhajān imān |
ଭୀମସେନ କହିଲେ—ପୃଥିବୀରେ ପଦଚାରଣା କରୁଥିବା କୌଣସି ମର୍ତ୍ୟ ପାଞ୍ଚାଳୀଙ୍କ ଏହି କେଶକୁ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କଲେ, ସେ ମୋ ହାତରୁ ଜୀବନ୍ତ ଛୁଟିପାରିବ ନାହିଁ। ଯଦି ମୁଁ ପରାଜୟର ଅପମାନରେ ବନ୍ଧା ନ ଥାନ୍ତି, ଏହି ଅପରାଧ ଦଣ୍ଡବିହୀନ ରହିନଥାନ୍ତା।
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between righteous anger and enforced restraint: Bhīma asserts that an outrage against Draupadī would normally demand immediate punishment, but the conditions of defeat and the binding force of the gambling loss suppress his ability to act—showing how adharma can be enabled when dharma is constrained by social/legal forms.
In the Kuru assembly after the dice game, Draupadī is dishonored. Bhīma, furious, declares that anyone who touched Draupadī’s hair should not have survived if Bhīma were not effectively powerless due to the Pandavas’ loss, expressing his vow-like resolve for future retribution.