Mahabharata 1.140.1 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 1

Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)

Devanagari script

(री [०८ ४० [/० '/० . क्षुर उस बाणको कहते हैं

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca

śrutvā pāṇḍusutān vīrān balodṛktān mahaujasaḥ |

dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpālaś cintām agamad āturaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als König Dhṛtarāṣṭra, der Herrscher der Erde, vernahm, dass die heldenhaften Söhne Pāṇḍus überaus mächtig geworden und von großer Kraft erfüllt seien, geriet er in Bedrängnis und verfiel in angstvolle Gedanken. Der Vers zeichnet eine moralische Spannung: Der Aufstieg rechtmäßiger Stärke bei anderen weckt Furcht und politische Unsicherheit in dem, der an der Macht festhält, und bereitet Entscheidungen vor, die das Dharma prüfen.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana (the narrator)
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), Active

• पाण्डु-सुतान्: the sons of Pāṇḍu
• पाण्डु-सुतान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुसुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वीरान्: heroes
• वीरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बल-उद्रिक्तान्: surpassing (others) in strength; exceedingly strong
• बल-उद्रिक्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलोद्रिक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महौजसः: of great vigor/energy; very powerful
• महौजसः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महीपालः: the king; protector of the earth
• महीपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चिन्ताम्: anxiety; worry
• चिन्ताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अगमत्: went to; fell into
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आतुरः: distressed; agitated
• आतुरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Pāṇḍu
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how attachment to power and insecurity can cloud a ruler’s judgment: the success and strength of others, even rightful heirs, may provoke fear rather than fairness—an early ethical warning about governance without equanimity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears of the Pāṇḍavas’ increasing strength and prowess; this news makes him uneasy and anxious, foreshadowing the political maneuvers and tensions that will follow.