Shloka 22

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproof and Vow-Logic: On Dice-Deception, Exile Terms, and the Governance of Anger

Adhyāya 35

Devanagari script

धार्तराष्ट्रानू महाराज क्षमसे किं दुरात्मन: । कर्तव्ये पुरुषव्याप्र किमास्से पीठसर्पवत्‌

Transliteration

dhārtarāṣṭrānū mahārāja kṣamase kiṃ durātmanaḥ | kartavye puruṣavyāghra kim āsse pīṭhasarpavat ||

Translation

Bhīmasena nói: “Ôi đại vương, sao bệ hạ cứ mãi tha thứ cho những đứa con ác của Dhṛtarāṣṭra? Hỡi bậc hổ trong loài người, khi cần hành động, sao bệ hạ lại ngồi yên—như con rắn cuộn mình trên chỗ ngồi?”

Word by Word

धार्तराष्ट्रान्the Dhārtarāṣṭras (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

हेO (vocative particle)

महाराजO great king

क्षमसेyou tolerate/forgive

किम्why?/what?

दुरात्मनःof the wicked-minded (man)

कर्तव्येin what ought to be done / in duty

पुरुषव्याघ्रO tiger among men

किम्why?

आस्सेyou sit/remain

पीठसर्पवत्like a snake on a seat (i.e., inertly/menacingly)

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Yudhiṣṭhira

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts excessive forbearance with timely duty: forgiveness is a virtue, but when injustice persists and decisive action is required, continued passivity becomes a failure of responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma challenges Yudhiṣṭhira’s continued patience toward the Kauravas, urging him to act rather than remain inactive, using the image of a coiled serpent to criticize dangerous inaction.