Shloka 6

Portents, Pursuit to the Nalinī, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Restraint Toward Bhīma

Saugandhika-padma Continuation

Devanagari script

हरिणैश्वपलापाड्लैहरिणीसहितैरवनम्‌ । सशष्पकवलै: श्रीमान्‌ पथि दृष्ट्वा द्रुतं ययौ,शोभाशाली भीमसेन मुहमें हटी घासका कौर लिये हुए चंचल नेत्रोंवाले हरिणों और हरिणियोंसे युक्त उस वनकी शोभा देखते हुए बड़े वेगसे चले जा रहे थे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | hariṇaiś capalāpāṅgair hariṇī-sahitair vanam | saśaṣpa-kavalaiḥ śrīmān pathi dṛṣṭvā drutaṃ yayau ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Seeing on the path a forest adorned with deer—restless-eyed and accompanied by does—some holding mouthfuls of tender grass, the illustrious Bhīmasena moved on swiftly.

Word by Word

हरिणैःby/with deer

चand

अपलापाड्यैःwith skittish/roving-eyed (ones)

हरिणीwith a doe / with does

सहितैःaccompanied (by), together with

वनम्the forest

सhe

शष्पकवलैःwith mouthfuls of young grass

श्रीमान्splendid, illustrious

पथिon the path

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

द्रुतम्quickly

ययौwent

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīmasena

forest (vana)

deer (hariṇa)

does (hariṇī)

grass shoots (śaṣpa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness of purpose: beauty and tranquility may appear even during adversity, but a person committed to duty does not lose momentum. Bhīma’s swift movement suggests resolve and disciplined focus amid the forest’s allure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīmasena traveling quickly; on the way he sees a forest filled with deer and does, some chewing tender grass. The passage paints a vivid scene of the wilderness encountered during the journey.