Shloka 33

Devanagari script

पज्चालान्‌ विविधोपायै: सान्त्वयामास पाण्डव: । नरश्रेष्ठ भीमसेनने पहले पांचालोंकी महानगरी अहिच्छत्रामें जाकर भाँति-भाँतिके उपायोंसे पांचाल वीरोंको समझा-बुझाकर वशमें किया

Transliteration

Pañcālān vividhopāyaiḥ sāntvayāmāsa Pāṇḍavaḥ.

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The Pāṇḍava, employing many different expedients, conciliated the Pañcālas and brought them under control—showing that in the epic, political ends are pursued not only by force, but also through persuasion and tact.

Word by Word

• पाञ्चालान्: the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विविधोपायैः: by various means/strategies
• विविधोपायैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविध-उपाय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सान्त्वयामास: conciliated / won over
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डवः: the Pandava (Bhima)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍava
• Pañcālas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic preference for achieving objectives through sāntva (conciliation) and intelligent upāya (skillful means) before resorting to harsher measures—an ethical model of leadership that values persuasion and restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that a Pāṇḍava wins over the Pañcālas using multiple strategies of conciliation, indicating a deliberate effort to secure cooperation and political alignment.