Shloka 44
Bhīmasena’s Discourse on Kāla, Resolve, and the Feasibility of Ajñātavāsa (भीमसेनस्य कालोपदेशः)
तत्र ते न्यवसन् राजन् किंचित् कालं मनस्विनः । धनुर्वेदपरा वीरा: शृण्वन्तो वेदमुत्तमम्,राजन! वहाँ धनुर्वेदके अभ्यासमें तत्पर हो उत्तम वेदमन्त्रोंका उद्घोष सुनते हुए उन मनस्वी पाण्डवोंने कुछ कालतक निवास किया
tatra te nyavasan rājan kiñcit kālaṁ manasvinaḥ | dhanurvedaparā vīrāḥ śṛṇvanto vedam uttamam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “There, O King, those high-minded heroes stayed for some time—devoted to the discipline of archery, and listening to the solemn recitation of the supreme Vedic hymns.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a balanced ideal of kṣatriya life: martial discipline (dhanurveda) is pursued alongside reverence for Vedic learning. Strength is framed as ethical and restrained when grounded in sacred instruction and self-mastery.
The narrator reports that the heroes (the Pāṇḍavas, by context) remain in a certain place for a period, practicing archery and listening to the recitation of excellent Vedic hymns—showing their continued training and spiritual orientation during their forest life.