Shloka 3
Karma, Preta-gati, and the Continuity of Phala
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Instruction
स धर्मराजमालक्ष्य भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रजम् । कथयामास तत् सर्व ग्रहणादि विचेष्टितम्,“कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम कैसे इस विपत्तिमें फँस गये? और यह पर्वतके समान लम्बा-चौड़ा श्रेष्ठ नाग कौन है?' अपने बड़े भ्राता धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको वहाँ उपस्थित देख भाई भीमसेनने अपने पकड़े जाने आदिकी सारी चेष्टाएँ कह सुनायीं
sa dharmarājam ālakṣya bhrātā bhrātaram agrajam | kathayāmāsa tat sarvaṁ grahaṇādi viceṣṭitam ||
Ao avistar Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, seu irmão mais velho, Bhīma aproximou-se dele e contou tudo o que acontecera—desde a captura—explicando o estranho curso dos eventos. Assim, o episódio se inscreve em seu quadro ético: a responsabilidade para com os irmãos e o dever de relatar a verdade em meio à crise.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a moment of danger, dharma expresses itself through clarity and accountability: the younger brother reports the facts to the elder (the dharma-king), enabling right action. The verse highlights truthful communication and fraternal responsibility as ethical necessities in crisis.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma, upon seeing Yudhiṣṭhira present, tells him the entire sequence of events—starting from his being seized—while implicitly questioning how Yudhiṣṭhira has come into this predicament and identifying the formidable serpent involved.