Shloka 41
द्रौपदी-भीमसेनसंवादः
Draupadī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Suffering, Kāla, and Daiva
त॑ दृष्टवा व्यापृतं गोषु वत्सचर्मक्षपाशयम् । सहदेवं युधां श्रेष्ठ कि नु जीवामि पाण्डव,पाण्डुनन्दन! योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ उसी सहदेवको जब मैं गौओंकी सेवामें तत्पर और बछड़ोंके चमड़ेपर रातमें सोते देखती हूँ, तब किसलिये जीवन धारण करूँ?
taṁ dṛṣṭvā vyāpṛtaṁ goṣu vatsacarmakṣapāśayam | sahadevaṁ yudhāṁ śreṣṭha ki nu jīvāmi pāṇḍava pāṇḍunandana ||
“โอ บุตรแห่งปาณฑุ! เมื่อข้าเห็นสหเทวะ ผู้เลิศในหมู่นักรบ กลับหมกมุ่นอยู่กับการดูแลโค และยามราตรีนอนบนหนังลูกโค แล้วข้าจะมีชีวิตอยู่ไปเพื่อสิ่งใด?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between inner worth and outer role: dharma may require enduring humiliation or reversal of status (a warrior serving cattle) to keep a larger vow and protect a greater good. True nobility is shown by steadfastness under constraint, not merely by public honor.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Sahadeva is seen engaged in cattle-service and sleeping on calf-skins at night. The speaker (in lament) reacts with grief at seeing a renowned warrior reduced to such a life, questioning the value of continuing to live.