Shloka 35
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal
समुद्यम्य महाबाहुर्भ्रामयामास वीर्यवान् । ततो मल्लाश्न मत्स्याश्न विस्मयं चक्रिरे परम्,तदनन्तर चौड़ी छाती और लंबी भुजावाले, कुश्तीके दाँव-पेचमें कुशल वे दोनों वीर गम्भीर गर्जनाके साथ एक-दूसरेको डाँट बताते हुए लोहेके परिघ (मोटे डंडे)-जैसी बाँहोंसे बाँहें मिलाकर परस्पर भिड़ गये। फिर विपुलपराक्रमी शत्रुहन्ता महाबाहु भीमसेनने गर्जना करते हुए, जैसे सिंह हाथीपर झपटे, उसी प्रकार झपटकर जीमूतको दोनों हाथोंसे पकड़कर खींचा और ऊपर उठाकर उसे घुमाना आरम्भ किया। यह देख वहाँ आये हुए पहलवानों तथा मत्स्यदेशकी प्रजाको बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ
samudyamya mahābāhur bhrāmayāmāsa vīryavān | tato mallāś ca matsyāś ca vismayaṃ cakrire param ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty-armed, valiant hero lifted him up and began to whirl him around. Seeing this, both the wrestlers and the people of the Matsya realm were struck with the greatest astonishment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vīrya guided by skill: true power is not mere aggression but controlled strength and mastery that becomes evident to society. The astonishment of the crowd signals how exceptional capability, when displayed without cruelty for its own sake, earns recognition and can uphold one’s role (dharma) in a public setting.
In the wrestling arena of Matsya, Bhīmasena overpowers his opponent Jīmūta by lifting him up and whirling him around. The wrestlers and the Matsya populace witness this feat and react with great amazement.