Shloka 493
Bhīmasena–Hanūmān Saṃvāda: The Tail Test and the Divine Path
वन॑ पाण्डुसुत: श्रीमाछ्छब्देनापूरयन् दिश: । तब अपने बाहु-बलका भरोसा रखनेवाले श्रीमान् वायुपुत्र भीमने कुपित हो एक हाथीसे दूसरे हाथियोंको और एक सिंहसे दूसरे सिंहोंको मार भगाया तथा उन महाबली पाण्डुकुमारने कितनोंको तमाचोंके प्रहारसे मार डाला। भीमसेनकी मार खाकर सिंह, व्याप्र और चीते (बघेरे) भयसे उन्हें छोड़कर भाग चले तथा घबराकर मल-मूत्र करने लगे। तदनन्तर महान् शक्तिशाली पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेनने शीघ्र उन सबको छोड़कर अपनी गर्जनासे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको गुँजाते हुए एक वनमें प्रवेश किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vanaṃ pāṇḍusutaḥ śrīmān śabdenāpūrayann diśaḥ | tataḥ svabāhu-balāśrayaḥ śrīmān vāyuputro bhīmaḥ kupito hastinā hastinaḥ siṃhena ca siṃhān jaghāna vidhāvitavān | sa mahābalī pāṇḍukumāraḥ kecid api tāḍanaiḥ (tāḍa-prāhāraiḥ) nipātitavān | bhīmasenasya prahārābhihataiḥ siṃhaiḥ vyāghraiś ca citrakaiḥ (dvipadāṃśubhiḥ) bhayāt taṃ parityajya palāyitam, trastaiś ca mala-mūtraṃ kṛtam | tadanantaraṃ mahāśaktimān pāṇḍunandano bhīmasenaḥ kṣipraṃ tān sarvān vihāya svagarjanayā samantād diśo ghoṣayan vane prāviśat |
Vaiśampāyana said: The illustrious son of Pāṇḍu filled the quarters with his roar. Then Bhīma, the splendid son of Vāyu, trusting in the strength of his own arms and inflamed with anger, drove the beasts into rout—striking down elephants with elephants and lions with lions, and felling many with the force of his blows. Lions, tigers, and leopards, battered by Bhīmasena, abandoned the place in terror, fleeing in panic and even losing control of themselves from fear. Thereafter the mighty Pāṇḍu’s son Bhīmasena, leaving them behind, entered deeper into the forest, making all directions resound with his thunderous cry.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts immense capability with the impulse of anger: strength can secure safety and command fear in a hostile environment, but when driven by krodha it becomes a force that overwhelms restraint—hinting at the ethical need to govern power with self-control.
Bhīma, described as the son of Vāyu and son of Pāṇḍu, roars so loudly that the directions resound. Enraged, he attacks and scatters powerful wild animals—elephants, lions, tigers, and leopards—causing them to flee in terror. He then leaves them behind and enters deeper into the forest, still roaring.