Shloka 8
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
अहं तु पुत्रो भगवन् पिता राजा गुरुश्न मे । निदेशवर्ती च पितु: पुत्रो भवति धर्मत:
ahaṃ tu putro bhagavan pitā rājā guruś ca me | nideśavartī ca pituḥ putro bhavati dharmataḥ ||
“然而我乃其子，尊者；持国王是我之父，亦是我之师。依于法，子当奉父命而行——我又怎能反而命令父亲呢？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes putra-dharma: a son’s ethical obligation is to honor and obey his father, who is also regarded as a guru. This frames authority as flowing from parent/teacher to child, making it improper for the son to command the father.
In the Ashramavāsika context, a speaker (as reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana) expresses reluctance to direct or overrule King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, arguing that since Dhṛtarāṣṭra is his father and teacher, dharma requires the son to follow the father’s instructions rather than issue instructions to him.