Shloka 6

Devanagari script

द्विपा वा बलिनो राजन्‌ वृषभा वा महाबला: | विनिग्राह्मा यदि मया निग्रहीष्यामि तानपि,राजन्‌! बलवान्‌ हाथी अथवा महाबली बैल भी यदि काबूमें करनेके लिये मुझे सौंपे जायँगे तो मैं उन्हें भी बाँधकर अपने वशमें कर लूँगा

Transliteration

dvipā vā balino rājan vṛṣabhā vā mahābalāḥ | vinigrāhyā yadi mayā nigrahīṣyāmi tān api rājan ||

Translation

Bhīmasena said: “O King, whether they be powerful elephants or mighty bulls—if they are entrusted to me to be restrained, I shall subdue even them and bring them under control.”

Word by Word

द्विपाःelephants

वाor

बलिनःstrong

राजन्O king

वृषभाःbulls

वाor

महाबलाःvery strong

विनिग्राह्याःto be restrained/subdued

यदिif

मयाby me

निग्रहीष्यामिI will restrain/subdue

तान्those (them)

अपिeven/also

राजन्O king

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Virāṭa (the king addressed as rājan)

elephants

bulls

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True strength is shown through restraint and responsible use of power. Bhīma emphasizes mastery over even the strongest creatures, implying that force should be governed by discipline and applied in the service of duty and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in King Virāṭa’s realm, Bhīma speaks confidently to the king, assuring him that he can control and manage even powerful elephants or bulls if assigned that task.