Shloka 23

Bhīmasena’s Discourse on Kāla, Resolve, and the Feasibility of Ajñātavāsa (भीमसेनस्य कालोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सो$5भिगम्य यथान्यायं पाण्डवै: प्रतिपूजित: । युधिष्ठटिरमिदं वाक्यमुवाच वदतां वर:,पाण्डवोंने उठकर उनकी अगवानी की और यथायोग्य पूजन किया। तत्पश्चात्‌ वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ व्यासजी युधिष्ठिरसे इस प्रकार बोले--

Transliteration

so 'bhigamya yathānyāyaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ pratipūjitaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiram idaṃ vākyam uvāca vadatāṃ varaḥ ||

Translation

Er trat in gebührender Weise heran und wurde von den Pāṇḍavas angemessen empfangen und geehrt. Dann sprach Vyāsa—der Vornehmste unter den Rednern—zu Yudhiṣṭhira diese Worte:

Word by Word

सःhe

अभिगम्यhaving approached

यथाas, according to

न्यायम्proper rule/etiquette

पाण्डवैःby the Pandavas

प्रतिपूजितःhonored, duly worshipped

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhishthira

इदम्this

वाक्यम्speech, words

उवाचsaid, spoke

वदताम्of those who speak

वरःthe best, excellent one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

Yudhiṣṭhira

Vyāsa

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 dharmic conduct through proper reception of a revered guest: approaching and honoring elders and sages according to established propriety (yathā-nyāyam) is itself an ethical act that prepares one to receive guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa arrives and approaches the Pāṇḍavas; they rise, welcome him, and honor him appropriately. After being received, Vyāsa begins to speak to Yudhiṣṭhira, introducing the forthcoming instruction or counsel.