Shloka 5

Post–Baka-vadha Residence and the Introduction of Yājñasenī’s Svayaṃvara (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १५३)

Devanagari script

अहं कामगमा वीर रक्षोबलसमन्विता । आरुहेमां मम श्रोणिं नेष्यामि त्वां विहायसा,“वीर! मैं इच्छानुसार चल सकती हूँ, मुझमें राक्षसोंका सम्पूर्ण बल है। आप मेरे इस कटिप्रदेश या पीठपर बैठ जाइये। मैं आपको आकाशमार्गसे ले चलूँगी

Transliteration

ahaṁ kāmagamā vīra rakṣobalasamanvitā | āruhe māṁ mama śroṇiṁ neṣyāmi tvāṁ vihāyasā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Held, ich kann mich nach Belieben bewegen und bin mit der ganzen Kraft der Rākṣasas begabt. Steig auf meine Hüften/meinen Rücken; ich werde dich auf dem Weg durch den Himmel tragen.“

Word by Word

अहम्I

कामगमाable to go at will

वीरO hero

रक्षःबलसमन्विताendowed with the strength of the Rakshasas

आरुहmount (climb up)!

इमाम्this

ममof me / my

श्रोणिम्hip/haunch (lap/seat region)

नेष्यामिI will lead

त्वाम्you

विहायसाthrough the sky / by the aerial path

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

vīra (unnamed hero addressed)

rākṣasas

vihāyasa (the sky/aerial path)

śroṇi (hips/back as the seat)

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 highlights extraordinary capability used in service: power and freedom of movement are presented not for domination but to protect and transport another, suggesting that strength gains ethical value when directed toward aid and safeguarding.

What is happening in the narrative?

A powerful rākṣasī-like figure (speaking to a ‘hero’) declares she can travel at will and possesses rākṣasa strength, inviting him to mount her hips/back so she can carry him through the sky to their destination.