Shloka 40

Devanagari script

स हि भीमेन बलिना जात: सुरपराक्रम: । तस्मिन्नस्त्राणि दिव्यानि राक्षसान्यासुराणि च,अतः मेरी रायमें इस समय महाबली घटोत्कच ही राधापुत्र कर्णका सामना करनेके लिये जाय; क्योंकि वह बलवान्‌ भीमसेनका बेटा है, देवताओंके समान पराक्रमी है तथा उसके पास राक्षससम्बन्धी एवं असुरसम्बन्धी सभी प्रकारके दिव्य अस्त्र-शस्त्र हैं

Transliteration

sa hi bhīmena balinā jātaḥ suraparākramaḥ | tasminn astrāṇi divyāni rākṣasāny āsurāṇi ca |

Translation

Vāyu said: “For he was born of the mighty Bhīma and possesses valor like that of the gods. In him are divine weapons—those belonging to the Rākṣasas and the Asuras as well. Therefore, at this moment, the great Ghaṭotkaca should be sent to confront Karṇa, the son of Rādhā.”

Word by Word

• {'saḥ': 'he', 'hi': 'indeed, for', 'bhīmena': 'by/through Bhīma (instrumental)', 'balinā': 'mighty, powerful (instrumental)', 'jātaḥ': 'born, arisen', 'sura-parākramaḥ': 'having the prowess/valor of the gods', 'tasmin': 'in him, in that one (locative)', 'astrāṇi': 'weapons, missiles (especially mantra-empowered astras)', 'divyāni': 'divine, celestial', 'rākṣasāni': 'belonging to the Rākṣasas

• demonic-class weapons', 'āsurāṇi': 'belonging to the Asuras

• anti-god-class weapons', 'ca': 'and'}

Speaker

श्रीवायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Karṇa (Rādhāputra)
• Rākṣasas
• Asuras
• divyāni astrāṇi (divine weapons)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discerning strategy in a dharma-war: match an opponent not only with strength but with the right capabilities. Ghaṭotkaca’s mixed, otherworldly arsenal and godlike valor make him an appropriate counter to Karṇa at a critical moment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu recommends that the Pāṇḍavas send Ghaṭotkaca to face Karṇa. He justifies this by stressing Ghaṭotkaca’s parentage (born of Bhīma), his extraordinary prowess, and his possession of powerful divine weapons associated with Rākṣasas and Asuras.