Shloka 23
Gandhamādana-praveśa and Vṛṣaparvan-āśrama
Entry toward Gandhamādana; hospitality and onward route
स शक्रवद् दानवदैत्यसड्घान् विक्रम्य जित्वा च रणेडरिसड्घान् । विगाह्द[ तां पुष्करिणीं जितारि: कामाय जग्राह ततो<म्बुजानि,शत्रुविजयी भीम इन्द्रकी भाँति पराक्रम करके दानव और दैत्योंके दलको युद्धमें हराकर उस सरोवरमें प्रविष्ट हो इच्छानुसार कमलोंका संग्रह करने लगे
sa śakravad dānavadaityasaṅghān vikramya jitvā ca raṇe 'risaṅghān | vigāhya tāṃ puṣkariṇīṃ jitāriḥ kāmāya jagrāha tato 'mbujāni ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Like Indra himself, Bhīma, the conqueror of foes, displayed mighty valor—overpowering and defeating in battle the assembled hosts of Dānavas and Daityas. Having thus subdued the enemy ranks, he plunged into that lotus-pond and, according to his desire, began gathering the lotuses there.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined strength: heroic power is shown not as aimless aggression but as the capacity to overcome obstructing forces and then pursue a legitimate objective with composure—valor serving purpose rather than ego.
Bhīma, compared to Indra, defeats hostile hosts (Dānavas and Daityas) in battle and then enters a lotus-pond, gathering lotuses as he wishes—suggesting he has secured access to the pond by overcoming opposition.