Shloka 21
नैषां शस्त्रप्रहारो5स्ति पद नेहास्ति कस्यचित् । भूतं महदिदं मन्ये भ्रातरो येन मे हता:
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | naiṣāṃ śastraprahāro 'sti padaṃ nehāsti kasyacit | bhūtaṃ mahad idaṃ manye bhrātaro yena me hatāḥ | dharmaputro mahābāhur vilalāpa suvistaram |
“ଏମାନଙ୍କ ଦେହରେ ଶସ୍ତ୍ରପ୍ରହାରର କୌଣସି ଚିହ୍ନ ନାହିଁ; ଏଠାରେ କାହାର ପଦଚିହ୍ନ ମଧ୍ୟ ନାହିଁ। ମୋ ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯେ ମାରିଛି, ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କୌଣସି ମହାଭୂତସତ୍ତା।” ଏହିପରି କହି ମହାବାହୁ ଧର୍ମପୁତ୍ର ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ଦୀର୍ଘ ଭାବେ ବିଲାପ କଲେ।
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in intense grief, Dharmaputra models a dharmic habit: he observes carefully, avoids rash accusation, and infers causes from evidence (no weapon-wounds, no footprints). The verse highlights ethical restraint and reasoned judgment under emotional pressure.
Yudhiṣṭhira sees his brothers fallen and, noticing no signs of combat or human presence, concludes that a powerful supernatural being (bhūta) must have struck them down. He then laments at length, torn between sorrow and the need to understand what has happened.