Shloka 66
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डवेषु प्रीति-वृत्तान्तः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Affectionate Disposition toward the Pāṇḍavas
अहमप्युपवत्स्यामि यथैवायं गुरुर्मम । यदि राजा न भुद्धक्तेड्यं गान्धारी च यशस्विनी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | aham apy upavatsyāmi yathaivāyaṃ gurur mama | yadi rājā na bhuṅkte 'dyaṃ gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī | provācedaṃ susaṃrabdho bhīmaḥ sa paruṣaṃ vacaḥ |
毗舍波耶那说：“我也要像这位长者、我的尊师一样守斋。若今日持国王（Dhṛtarāṣṭra）与声名显赫的甘达丽（Gāndhārī）不进食，那么我也将如这些可敬的长辈一般绝食。”于是毗摩——仍记着因持国王偏私而起的苛刻谋议与诸多不义——在怒潮中说出了这番严厉之言。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral persuasion can be driven by intense emotion: Bhīma uses the austerity of fasting as leverage to influence revered elders. It raises an ethical tension between righteous intent (seeking accountability and proper conduct) and unrighteous means (anger and harsh speech), reminding readers that dharma includes both ends and the manner of action.
In the Āśramavāsika setting, Bhīma—still burdened by memories of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s earlier partiality and the resulting wrongs—speaks angrily. He declares that if Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī do not eat that day, he too will fast, aligning his vow with that of a revered elder and pressing the royal couple through a public, force gives resolve.