Shloka 36
Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणं भीम॑ तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिर: । उवाच सान्त्वयन् राजा मूर्ध्न्युपात्राय पाण्डवम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! धर्मराज राजा युधिष्ठिरने उपर्युक्त बातें कहनेवाले पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेनका मस्तक सूँधकर उन्हें सान्त्वना देते हुए कहा --
vaiśampāyana uvāca | evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ bhīmaṃ tu dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | uvāca sāntvayan rājā mūrdhny upāghrāya pāṇḍavam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang magsalita si Bhīma nang gayon, kinausap siya ni Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira. Ang hari, upang aliwin ang Pāṇḍava, ay yumuko at inamoy (hinagkan sa halik) ang kanyang ulo at nagsalita—isang malapit na tanda ng pag-ibig upang payapain ang nagngangalit na damdamin ni Bhīma at ibalik siya sa pagkakatimbang na ayon sa dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when strong emotions arise, dharma is upheld through compassionate restraint: Yudhiṣṭhira responds to Bhīma not with escalation but with calming affection and measured speech, modeling ethical leadership and fraternal care.
After Bhīma has spoken intensely, Yudhiṣṭhira comforts him. The king affectionately smells/kisses Bhīma’s head (upāghrāya mūrdhni) and then speaks to soothe him, as narrated by Vaiśampāyana to King Janamejaya.