Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो वेझि ते हृदयस्थितम्‌ । मनीषया ततः क्षिप्रमागतो5स्मि नरर्षभ,व्यासजीने कहा--नरश्रेष्ठ महाबाहु युधिष्छिर! मैं ध्यानके द्वारा तुम्हारे मनका भाव जान चुका हूँ। इसलिये शीघ्रतापूर्वक यहाँ आया हूँ

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | yudhiṣṭhira mahābāho vetmi te hṛdayasthitam | manīṣayā tataḥ kṣipram āgato 'smi nararṣabha ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: „O Yudhiṣṭhira, du Mächtigarmiger, du Bester der Menschen: Ich weiß, was in deinem Herzen feststeht. Da ich es durch meine Einsicht erkannt habe, bin ich darum eilends hierher gekommen, o Stier unter den Männern.“

Word by Word

व्यासःVyasa

उवाचsaid

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhishthira

महाबाहोO mighty-armed one

वेत्तिknows

तेyour

हृदयस्थितम्situated in (your) heart; heart-abiding (thought)

मनीषयाby (my) understanding/insight

ततःtherefore/then

क्षिप्रम्quickly

आगतःhaving come; came

अस्मिI am (i.e., I have come)

नरर्षभO bull among men; O best of men

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Yudhiṣṭhira

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that ethical action begins with inner intention: a sage perceives the heart’s resolve and responds promptly to guide it. It underscores the Mahābhārata theme that dharma is rooted not only in outward deeds but also in the mind’s settled purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, stating that he has discerned what is in Yudhiṣṭhira’s heart through spiritual/intellectual insight and has therefore come quickly—setting the stage for counsel or intervention based on Yudhiṣṭhira’s inner state.