Shloka 28
सुयोधनमिमं पाप॑ हन्तास्मि गदया युधि । शिर: पादेन चास्याहमधिष्ठास्यथामि भूतले
suyodhanam imaṁ pāpaṁ hantāsmi gadayā yudhi | śiraḥ pādena cāsyāham adhiṣṭhāsyāmi bhūtale ||
Ta sẽ giết tên tội lỗi Suyodhana (Duryodhana) này trong chiến trận bằng cây chùy của ta; và khi hắn ngã gục trên chiến địa, ta sẽ đặt chân lên đầu hắn trên mặt đất.
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public humiliation and perceived adharma can harden into a vow of violent retaliation. It raises an ethical tension central to the epic: even when one’s cause is just, anger-driven speech and the desire to dishonor an enemy (stepping on the head) can intensify conflict and bind the speaker to a harsh course of action.
In the royal assembly during the dice-game crisis, Bhīma openly vows that when war comes between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas, he will kill Duryodhana with a mace and, after felling him, will place his foot upon Duryodhana’s head on the battlefield—an oath spoken as a challenge and a promise of future vengeance.