Shloka 66
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
एवमुक््त्वा प्रहस्यैनं किंचित् स पुनरब्रवीत् । मा भे: प्राणभयाद् वीर क्षमिणो ब्राह्मणा वयम्,यों कहकर द्रोणाचार्य कुछ हँसे। उसके बाद फिर उनसे इस प्रकार बोले--“वीर! प्राणोंपर संकट आया जानकर भयभीत न होओ। हम क्षमाशील ब्राह्मण हैं
evam uktvā prahasyainaṃ kiñcit sa punar abravīt | mā bheḥ prāṇabhayād vīra kṣamiṇo brāhmaṇā vayam |
ఇలా చెప్పి ద్రోణుడు స్వల్పంగా నవ్వి, మళ్లీ ఇలా అన్నాడు—“వీరా! ప్రాణభయంతో భయపడకు; మేము బ్రాహ్మణులు క్షమాశీలులం.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣamā (forbearance/forgiveness) as a defining ethical trait of Brahmins and counsels fearlessness even under threat to life, implying that restraint and patience are dharmic responses to danger and provocation.
After speaking earlier words, the speaker smiles slightly and reassures a addressed hero not to fear for his life, asserting that “we are forgiving Brahmins,” thereby calming the situation and framing the encounter in terms of Brahminical self-control rather than retaliation.