Shloka 22

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproof and Vow-Logic: On Dice-Deception, Exile Terms, and the Governance of Anger

Adhyāya 35

Devanagari script

धार्तराष्ट्रानू महाराज क्षमसे किं दुरात्मन: । कर्तव्ये पुरुषव्याप्र किमास्से पीठसर्पवत्‌

Transliteration

dhārtarāṣṭrānū mahārāja kṣamase kiṃ durātmanaḥ | kartavye puruṣavyāghra kim āsse pīṭhasarpavat ||

Translation

Bhīmasena disse: “Ó grande rei, por que continuas a perdoar esses filhos perversos de Dhṛtarāṣṭra? Ó tigre entre os homens, quando a ação é exigida, por que permaneces imóvel—como uma serpente enroscada em seu assento?”

Word by Word

धार्तराष्ट्रान्the Dhārtarāṣṭras (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

हेO (vocative particle)

महाराजO great king

क्षमसेyou tolerate/forgive

किम्why?/what?

दुरात्मनःof the wicked-minded (man)

कर्तव्येin what ought to be done / in duty

पुरुषव्याघ्रO tiger among men

किम्why?

आस्सेyou sit/remain

पीठसर्पवत्like a snake on a seat (i.e., inertly/menacingly)

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Yudhiṣṭhira

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts excessive forbearance with timely duty: forgiveness is a virtue, but when injustice persists and decisive action is required, continued passivity becomes a failure of responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma challenges Yudhiṣṭhira’s continued patience toward the Kauravas, urging him to act rather than remain inactive, using the image of a coiled serpent to criticize dangerous inaction.