Shloka 52

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

स्वबाहुबलसम्पन्ना ह्वीनिषेवा यतव्रता: । विराटस्य महात्मान: परिक्लेशविनाशना:,वे सभी अपने बाहुबलसे सम्पन्न, लज्जाशील, संयमपूर्वक व्रतपालनमें तत्पर, महात्मा तथा विराटका सारा क्लेश दूर करनेवाले थे

Transliteration

svabāhubalasampannā hrīnīṣevā yatavratāḥ | virāṭasya mahātmānaḥ parikleśavināśanāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Sie alle waren mit der Kraft ihrer eigenen Arme ausgestattet, züchtig im Benehmen und standhaft in streng geübten Gelübden; jene großherzigen Männer wurden zum Mittel, Virāṭas ganze Bedrängnis zu tilgen.

Word by Word

स्वबाहुबलसम्पन्नाःendowed with their own arm-strength

ह्रीनिषेवाःpractising modesty (shame)

यतव्रताःof restrained vows / observing vows with self-control

विराटस्यof Virāṭa

महात्मानःgreat-souled ones

परिक्लेशविनाशनाःdestroyers of (all) distress

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Virāṭa

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?

True strength is framed by ethical restraint: physical prowess (bāhu-bala) becomes dharmic and beneficial when joined with modesty (hrī) and disciplined observance (yata-vrata). Such character turns heroes into protectors who relieve others’ suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes noble men—implicitly the capable protectors in Virāṭa’s court context—as strong, modest, and disciplined, emphasizing that their presence and actions dispel King Virāṭa’s troubles.