Shloka 24
नैतावता कृतमित्यब्रवीत् त॑ वृकोदर: संनिवृत्तार्धकाय: । शीघ्रं हि त्वां निहत॑ सानुबन्ध॑ संस्मार्यहं प्रतिवक्ष्यामि मूढ
naitāvatā kṛtam ity abravīt taṃ vṛkodaraḥ saṃnivṛttārdhakāyaḥ | śīghraṃ hi tvāṃ nihataṃ sānubandhaṃ saṃsmāryāhaṃ prativakṣyāmi mūḍha ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ତେବେ ବୃକୋଦର (ଭୀମ) ଅର୍ଧଦେହ ପଛକୁ ମୋଡ଼ି ତାହାକୁ କହିଲେ—“ମୂଢ! ଏତିକିରେ ମୋ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ସମାପ୍ତ ନୁହେଁ। ଶୀଘ୍ର ତୋତେ ତୋର ବନ୍ଧୁ-ବାନ୍ଧବ ସହିତ ଯମଲୋକକୁ ପଠାଇବି; ଏହି ପରିହାସକୁ ସ୍ମରି ତାହାର ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ପ୍ରତିଉତ୍ତର ଦେବି।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of kṣatriya retribution: humiliation and adharma are not treated as isolated offenses but as debts demanding a proportionate reply. It also shows how vows and memory of insult can harden into a sense of ‘duty,’ raising ethical tension between justice and vengeance.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates Bhīma’s fierce retort. Bhīma, turning back in a threatening posture, declares that his task is not finished and that he will soon kill the addressed opponent along with his supporters/kin, explicitly framing it as an answer to prior mockery and wrongdoing.