Shloka 32

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

उवाच चैतान्‌ राजासौ स्वागतं वो<स्त्विति प्रभु: । मौनमासीत्‌ तदा पार्थभीमयोर्जनमेजय

Transliteration

uvāca caitān rājāsau svāgataṃ vo ’stv iti prabhuḥ | maunam āsīt tadā pārtha-bhīmayor janamejaya ||

Translation

The king, that lord of men, addressed them, saying, “Welcome—may it be well with you.” Yet at that moment, O Janamejaya, Pārtha (Arjuna) and Bhīma remained silent.

Word by Word

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एतान्: these (persons)
• एतान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (प्रदर्शक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वागतम्: welcome
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• वः: to you / of you
• वः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Plural, 2nd

• अस्तु: let it be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• प्रभुः: the lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• पार्थभीमयोः: of Partha and Bhima
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ + भीम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• जनमेजय: O Janamejaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• the king (rājā)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Bhīma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of restraint: even when formally welcomed by a ruler, the wise may choose silence, signaling controlled speech and inner vigilance within a politically sensitive setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king greets the arriving party with a formal welcome, but Arjuna (Pārtha) and Bhīma do not respond; their silence suggests tension or deliberate composure in the royal assembly.