Shloka 20
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
नोद्यमानस्तदा भीमो दुःखेनैवाकरोन्मतिम् | न हि शक्नोति विवृते प्रत्याख्यातुं नराधिपम्,उस समय राजासे प्रेरित होनेपर भीमसेनने [पहचाने जानेके भयसे] दुःखी होकर ही उससे लड़नेका विचार किया। वे राजाकी बातको प्रकटरूपमें टाल नहीं सकते थे
nodyamānas tadā bhīmo duḥkhenaivākaron matim | na hi śaknoti vivṛte pratyākhyātuṃ narādhipam ||
Dù lúc ấy được nhà vua thúc giục, Bhīma—đau buồn vì sợ bị nhận ra—vẫn đành quyết, trong nỗi nặng lòng, sẽ bước vào cuộc đấu. Bởi chàng không thể công khai khước từ bậc chúa tể của loài người.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between prudence and duty: Bhīma must protect the larger dharmic goal of remaining undiscovered, yet he also cannot publicly defy the king’s command. It portrays self-restraint and strategic compliance under authority when a higher responsibility is at stake.
In the Virāṭa episode, Bhīma is living incognito. When the king urges action, Bhīma—despite anxiety about being recognized—decides to fight, because an open refusal would draw attention and would be improper toward the king.