Shloka 22

द्रौपदी-भीमसेनसंवादः

Draupadī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Suffering, Kāla, and Daiva

Devanagari script

स्प्रष्ट रा जसहस्राणि तेजसाप्रतिमानि वै | समरे नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव महार्णव:

Transliteration

spraṣṭrājasahasrāṇi tejasāpratimāni vai | samare nābhyavartanta velām iva mahārṇavaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: In battle, thousands of kings of incomparable splendor could not press forward against that hero—just as the great ocean cannot overstep its shoreline. Yet that same youthful Arjuna is now teaching the daughters of King Virāṭa to dance, hiding in the guise of a eunuch and serving those princesses.

Word by Word

• स्प्रष्टुम्: to touch / to reach
• स्प्रष्टुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश्
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• राजसहस्राणि: thousands of kings
• राजसहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• तेजसा: by/with splendor, by prowess
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अप्रतिमानि: incomparable
• अप्रतिमानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रतिम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अभ्यवर्तन्त: advanced toward / proceeded against
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वृत्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वेलाम्: shore, boundary (coastline)
• वेलाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेला
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• महार्णवः: the great ocean
• महार्णवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + अर्णव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• King Virāṭa
• Virāṭa’s daughters (princesses)
• thousands of kings
• the great ocean (mahārṇava)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined self-control and strategic humility: a warrior feared by kings accepts a lowly, concealed role to uphold dharma and fulfill the exile conditions, showing that true strength includes restraint and adaptability.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito year, Arjuna—once unstoppable in battle—lives in Virāṭa’s palace in disguise (as a dance instructor), teaching the king’s daughters and serving them while remaining hidden.