Shloka 9

भीमस्य बल्लव-प्रतिज्ञा तथा अर्जुनस्य बृहन्नडा-रूप-निर्णयः

Bhīma’s Ballava Vow and Arjuna’s Decision to Become Bṛhannadā

Devanagari script

आरालिको गोविकर्ता सूपकर्ता नियोधक: । आसं युधिष्ठटिरस्याहमिति वक्ष्यामि पृच्छत:,महाराजके पूछनेपर मैं यह कहूँगा कि मैं राजा युधिष्ठिरके यहाँ आरालिक (मतवाले हाथियोंको भी काबूमें करनेवाला गजशिक्षक), गोविकर्ता (महाबली वृषभोंको भी पछाड़कर उन्हें नाथनेवाला), सूपकर्ता (दाल-साग आदि भाँति-भाँतिके व्यंजन बनानेवाला) तथा नियोधक (दंगली पहलवान) रहा हूँ

Transliteration

ārālikaḥ govikartā sūpakartā niyodhakaḥ | āsaṃ yudhiṣṭhirasya aham iti vakṣyāmi pṛcchataḥ ||

Translation

Bhīmasena sprach: „Wenn man mich fragt, o König, werde ich sagen, ich habe Yudhiṣṭhira gedient als ārālika (Elefantendompteur), als Bändiger des Viehs, als Koch und als Ringer.“

Word by Word

आरालिकःcook/chef

गोविकर्ताcattle-handler (one who deals with cows/bulls)

सूपकर्ताmaker of soups/dishes; cook

नियोधकःwrestler/fighter

आसम्I was

युधिष्ठिरस्यof Yudhiṣṭhira

अहम्I

इतिthus/quoting

वक्ष्यामिI will say

पृच्छतःof (him) asking; when asked by (someone)

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

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?

True strength can express itself through restraint and service. Bhīma accepts a humble public role to protect a higher obligation—keeping the exile-vow intact and avoiding premature violence—showing that dharma may require patience, concealment, and disciplined self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the incognito year, the Pāṇḍavas plan their assumed identities. Bhīma states that if anyone asks, he will claim to have been employed under Yudhiṣṭhira as an animal-tamer, cook, and wrestler—roles that fit his power while keeping their true identities hidden.