Shloka 22

Devanagari script

लज्जमानेव ललना दिव्याभरणभूषिता । स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं भीमसेनमथाब्रवीत्‌,हिडिम्बा इच्छानुसार रूप धारण करनेवाली थी। वह मानवजातिकी स्त्रीके समान सुन्दर रूप बनाकर लजीली ललनाकी भाँति धीरे-धीरे महाबाहु भीमसेनके पास गयी। दिव्य आभूषण उसकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे। तब उसने मुसकराकर भीमसेनसे इस प्रकार पूछा --'पुरुषरत्न! आप कौन हैं और कहाँसे आये हैं? ये देवताओंके समान सुन्दर रूपवाले पुरुष कौन हैं, जो यहाँ सो रहे हैं?

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca |

Lajjamānevā lalanā divyābharaṇabhūṣitā |

Smitapūrvam idaṃ vākyaṃ Bhīmasenam athābravīt ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Adorned with divine ornaments, the young woman—seeming bashful—smiled and then addressed Bhīmasena with these words.

Word by Word

लज्जमानाbeing shy

इवas if

ललनाwoman

दिव्यdivine

आभरणornaments

भूषिताadorned

स्मितwith a smile

पूर्वम्first; beforehand

इदम्this

वाक्यम्speech; words

भीमसेनम्Bhimasena

अथthen

अब्रवीत्she said

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Hiḍimbā

divine ornaments (divyābharaṇa)

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 the power of outward demeanor—modesty, gentle approach, and respectful speech—to shape an encounter. In the broader episode, it frames how desire and intention can be presented through socially intelligible virtues (lajjā, smita), raising ethical questions about appearance, consent, and the use of transformative power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Hiḍimbā, having taken on an attractive human-like form and wearing divine ornaments, approaches the sleeping Pāṇḍavas’ camp. Smiling, she begins speaking to Bhīma, asking his identity and origin and inquiring about the godlike men sleeping nearby.