Shloka 23

देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्

Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology

Devanagari script

अपरस्मिन्‌ वनोद्देशे वीरोी शल्यवृकोदरौ

Transliteration

aparasmin vanoddeśe vīrau śalya-vṛkodarau | anyonyaṃ lalakārāte dvau mattāv iva gajarājau yuddham ācaratām | ubhau vidyā-bala-yuddha-kalā-sampannau ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: In einem anderen Teil des Waldes machten Śalya und Vṛkodara (Bhīma), beide mächtige Helden, jenen Ort zu ihrem Schlachtfeld. Einander herausfordernd kämpften sie wie zwei berauschte Herrscherelefanten. Jeder war vollendet in Kriegskunde, Körperkraft und den Künsten des Kampfes.

Word by Word

• अपरस्मिन्: in another
• अपरस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वन-उद्देशे: in a region of the forest
• वन-उद्देशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + उद्देश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शल्य-वृकोदरौ: Shalya and Vrikodara (Bhima)
• शल्य-वृकोदरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य + वृकोदर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śalya
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• forest tract (vanoddeśa)
• elephant-kings (gajarāja) (simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined prowess: true strength is not mere aggression but trained capability—vidyā (skill), bala (power), and yuddha-kalā (tactical art). Even in fierce rivalry, excellence is measured by mastery and courage rather than cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Śalya and Bhīma (Vṛkodara) fighting in another part of the forest. They challenge each other and battle intensely, compared to two rutting elephant-kings, emphasizing their equal might and refined warcraft.