Shloka 40
Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ
Commencement of the Regulated Duel
तानब्रवीज्जरासंधस्तथा पाण्डवयादवान् | आस्यतामिति राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणच्छग्मसंवृतान्,राजेन्द्र! ब्राह्मणोंके छद्मवेषमें छिपे हुए उन पाण्डव तथा यादव वीरोंको लक्ष्य करके जरासंधने कहा--“आपलोग बैठ जायाँ'
tān abravīj jarāsandhas tathā pāṇḍava-yādavān | āsyatām iti rājendra brāhmaṇa-chadma-saṁvṛtān ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da wandte sich Jarāsandha an jene Pāṇḍavas und Yādavas—die unter der Verkleidung von Brāhmaṇen verborgen waren—und sagte: „Setzt euch, o König.“ Der Augenblick zeigt, wie äußere Zeichen der Heiligkeit verborgene Absicht verhüllen können und wie königliche Etikette selbst in Unsicherheit gewährt wird.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between external appearance and inner reality: social reverence for brāhmaṇas can be invoked through disguise, while a king’s dharma of courteous reception may operate even when motives are uncertain.
Jarāsandha notices and addresses the Pāṇḍavas and Yādavas who have come in brāhmaṇa disguise, and he formally invites them to sit, setting the stage for their ensuing interaction.