Shloka 20
Chapter 59: Baladeva’s Censure, Keśava’s Restraint, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Moral Accounting
धार्मिको भीमसेनो<सावित्याहुस्त्वां पुरा जना: । स कस्माद् भीमसेन त्वं राजानमधितिष्ठसि
dhārmiko bhīmaseno ’sāv ity āhus tvāṃ purā janāḥ | sa kasmād bhīmasena tvaṃ rājānam adhitiṣṭhasi ||
Disse Sañjaya: “Outrora as pessoas diziam de ti: ‘Este Bhimasena é verdadeiramente justo.’ Se assim é, Bhimasena, por que agora pisas o rei (Duryodhana)?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between one’s reputation for dharma and actions taken in the heat of war, questioning whether humiliating or excessive violence against a fallen foe can be reconciled with righteousness.
In the aftermath of the climactic duel, Bhima is depicted as standing over/pressing upon the defeated Duryodhana; Sanjaya reports that people once praised Bhima as righteous and now question why he treats the fallen king in this manner.