Shloka 11
Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ
Commencement of the Regulated Duel
(पाण्डरे विपुले चैव तथा वाराहकेडपि च । चैत्यके च गिरिश्रेष्ठे मातड़े च शिलोच्चये ।। एतेषु पर्वतेन्द्रेषु सर्वसिद्धमहालया: । यतीनामाश्रमाच्चैव मुनीनां च महात्मनाम् ।। श्वैतवर्णके वृषभ, विपुल, वाराह, गिरिश्रेष्ठ चैत्यक तथा मातंग गिरि--इन सभी श्रेष्ठ पर्वतोंपर सम्पूर्ण सिद्धोंक विशाल भवन हैं तथा यतियों, मुनियों और महात्माओंके बहुत-से आश्रम हैं। वृषभस्य तमालस्य महावीर्यस्य वै तथा । गन्धर्वरक्षसां चैव नागानां च तथा5डलया: ।।) वृषभ, महापराक्रमी तमाल, गन्धर्वों, राक्षमों तथा नागोंके भी निवासस्थान उन पर्वतोंकी शोभा बढ़ाते हैं। एवं प्राप्य पुरं रम्यं दुराधर्ष समन्तत: । अर्थसिद्धि त्वनुपमां जरासंधोडभिमन्यते,इस प्रकार चारों ओरसे दुर्धर्ष उस रमणीय नगरको पाकर जरासंधको यह अभिमान बना रहता है कि मुझे अनुपम अर्थसिद्धि प्राप्त होगी
pāṇḍare vipule caiva tathā vārāhake ’pi ca | caityake ca giriśreṣṭhe mātaṅge ca śiloccaye || eteṣu parvatendreṣu sarvasiddhamahālayāḥ | yatīnām āśramāś caiva munīnāṃ ca mahātmanām || vṛṣabhasya tamālasya mahāvīryasya vai tathā | gandharvarakṣasāṃ caiva nāgānāṃ ca tathālayāḥ || evaṃ prāpya puraṃ ramyaṃ durādharṣaṃ samantataḥ | arthasiddhiṃ tv anupamāṃ jarāsandho ’bhimanyate ||
Vāyu said: “On the mountains Pāṇḍara and Vipula, and likewise on Vārāhaka; on Caityaka, on the excellent peak called Giriśreṣṭha, and on Mātaṅga, the lofty crag—on these lordly mountains stand vast abodes of perfected beings, and many hermitages of ascetics, sages, and great-souled seers. There too are the dwelling-places of Vṛṣabha, of the mighty Tamāla, and of Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas, which add to the splendour of those ranges. Having thus obtained that delightful city, impregnable on every side, Jarāsandha imagines that he will attain an incomparable fulfilment of wealth and power.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts the sanctity of mountain regions—filled with Siddhas and ascetics—with a king’s worldly fixation: Jarāsandha, protected by an impregnable city, grows confident of unrivalled artha (wealth/power). It implicitly warns that security and prosperity can inflate pride and obscure dharma.
Vāyu describes a cluster of renowned mountains surrounding a formidable city, noting the presence of sages and various supernatural races. The description culminates in Jarāsandha’s mindset: having gained such a well-defended, beautiful stronghold, he believes he is destined for extraordinary worldly success.