Shloka 6
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
प्रोवाचेद॑ वच: काले तदा धर्मभूतां वर: । आमन्त्र्य वदतां श्रेष्ठो भीम॑ प्रहरतां वरम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
provācedaṁ vacaḥ kāle tadā dharmabhūtāṁ varaḥ |
āmantrya vadatāṁ śreṣṭho bhīmaṁ praharatāṁ varam, kurunandana |
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— اسی موزوں گھڑی میں دھرم پر قائم لوگوں میں افضل راجا یُدھِشٹھِر نے وقت کے مطابق کلام فرمایا۔ اے کُرونندن، ضرب لگانے والوں میں برتر بھیم کو بلا کر، خطیبوں میں افضل یُدھِشٹھِر نے اسے مخاطب کر کے گفتگو کا آغاز کیا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma-guided leadership: a righteous king speaks only at the proper time and addresses the most capable person for the task, combining ethical authority (dharma) with practical discernment (kāla, timeliness).
The narrator introduces a scene where Yudhiṣṭhira, after summoning Bhīma, begins to deliver a timely instruction. The verse functions as a transition into Yudhiṣṭhira’s counsel or command directed specifically to Bhīma.