Shloka 23
मैव सम सुकृताललोकान् गच्छेत् पार्थों वृकोदर: । यदि वक्षो हि ते भित्त्वा न पिबेच्छोणितं रणे
bhīmasena uvāca |
maiva sama-sukṛtāl lokān gacchet pārtho vṛkodaraḥ |
yadi vakṣo hi te bhittvā na pibec choṇitaṃ raṇe ||
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
tasya rājā siṃha-gateḥ sa-khelaṃ duryodhano bhīmasenasya harṣād gatiṃ sva-gatyānucakāra |
mandho nirgacchatāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ sabhāyāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīmasena: “Nawa’y hindi marating ni Arjuna at ako, si Vṛkodara, ang iisang daigdig ng kabutihan, kung—pagkabiyak sa iyong dibdib sa digmaan—hindi ko iinumin ang iyong dugo.” Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Janamejaya, nang lumabas na ang mga Pāṇḍava sa bulwagan ng kapulungan, ang hangal na haring si Duryodhana, punô ng galak, ay nanlibak sa pamamagitan ng paggaya sa mala-leong lakad ni Bhīmasena, tinutumbasan ito ng sarili niyang hakbang.”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how unchecked pride and mockery deepen enmity and propel adharma: Duryodhana’s taunt adds humiliation to injustice, while Bhīma’s fierce vow shows how anger can harden into violent resolve—ethically warning that insults and wrath both escalate conflict.
After the events in the assembly, the Pāṇḍavas depart. Bhīma utters a terrifying battlefield vow against Duryodhana (to split his chest and drink his blood). Immediately after, Duryodhana, elated and foolish, imitates Bhīma’s lion-like gait to ridicule him as they leave the sabhā.