Shloka 21
मेरी बात सुन ले। यह कुन्तीपुत्र भीमसेन यदि युद्धमें तेरी छाती फाड़कर तेरा रक्त न पीये तो इसे पुण्यलोकोंकी प्राप्ति न हो
mama vākyam śṛṇu | ayaṃ kuntīputro bhīmasenaḥ yadi yuddhe tava vakṣaḥ vidārya tava rudhiraṃ na pibet, tarhi asya puṇyalokānāṃ prāptiḥ na bhavet |
“Pakinggan mo ang aking salita. Kung ako, si Bhīmasena—anak ni Kuntī—ay hindi makakapunit sa iyong dibdib sa digmaan at iinumin ang iyong dugo, nawa’y hindi ko marating ang mga daigdig ng kabutihang-loob.”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding power of a warrior’s vow: Bhīma ties his own spiritual merit (attainment of puṇyalokas) to the execution of a promised act of retribution, showing how honor and accountability are enforced through self-imposed ethical stakes—even when the vow itself is violent.
Bhīma addresses an enemy and declares a terrifying oath: unless he kills the opponent in battle in a particularly brutal manner (rending the chest and drinking blood), he considers himself unworthy of attaining meritorious worlds. It functions as a public pledge of vengeance and resolve.