Shloka 18
Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)
मैत्रेयेणाभिशप्तश्न पूर्वमेव महर्षिणा । ऊरू ते भेत्स्यते भीमो गदयेति परंतप
sañjaya uvāca |
maitreyeṇābhiśaptaś ca pūrvam eva maharṣiṇā |
ūrū te bhetsyate bhīmo gadayeti parantapa ||
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—“பரந்தபா! முன்பே மகரிஷி மைத்ரேயர் உன்னைச் சபித்தார்—‘பீமன் கதையால் உன் தொடைகளை நொறுக்குவான்’ என்று.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral causality: a grave wrong and pride can draw a binding consequence, here expressed as a sage’s curse. Even in war’s chaos, dharma operates through accountability—harmful intent and misconduct return as fitting retribution.
Sañjaya recalls an earlier event: the sage Maitreya had cursed that Bhīma would break the opponent’s thighs with a mace. The statement frames the impending (or remembered) battlefield outcome as something foretold and morally charged, not merely accidental.