Shloka 22

Kuberasaras-darśana (Bhīma beholds Kubera’s guarded lotus-lake) / कुबेरसरः-दर्शनम्

Devanagari script

एष पन्था: कुरुश्रेष्ठ सौगन्धिकवनाय ते । द्रक्ष्यससे धनदोद्यानं रक्षितं यक्षराक्षसै:,कुरुश्रेष्ठ! यह मार्ग सौगन्धिक वनको जाता है। इससे जानेपर तुम्हें कुबेरका बगीचा दिखायी देगा, जो यक्षों तथा राक्षसोंसे सुरक्षित है

Transliteration

eṣa panthāḥ kuruśreṣṭha saugandhikavanāya te | drakṣyase dhanadodyānaṁ rakṣitaṁ yakṣarākṣasaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O best of the Kurus, this is the path that leads you to the Saugaṇdhika forest. Going by it, you will behold the garden of Dhanada (Kubera), guarded and protected by Yakṣas and Rākṣasas.”

Word by Word

एषःthis

पन्थाःpath, way

कुरुश्रेष्ठO best of the Kurus

सौगन्धिकवनायto the Saugandhika forest

तेfor you

द्रक्ष्यसेyou will see

धनदोद्यानम्Kubera's garden

रक्षितम्protected, guarded

यक्षराक्षसैःby yakṣas and rākṣasas

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kuruśreṣṭha (addressed Kuru hero)

Saugaṇdhika-vana

Dhanada (Kubera)

Udyāna (garden/park)

Yakṣas

Rākṣasas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights discernment and restraint in pursuit: certain desired places (like Kubera’s garden) are protected by powerful guardians, implying that one should proceed with awareness of boundaries, authority, and the consequences of entering guarded domains.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana indicates the route to the Saugaṇdhika forest and foretells that the traveler will see Kubera’s (Dhanada’s) garden, which is under the protection of Yakṣas and Rākṣasas—setting up an impending encounter with supernatural guardians.