Shloka 5

प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile

Devanagari script

यदृच्छया धनुष्पाणिरबद्धखड्‌गो वृकोदर: ददर्श तद्‌ वन रम्यं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्‌

Transliteration

yadṛcchayā dhanuṣpāṇir abaddhakhaḍgo vṛkodaraḥ | dadarśa tad vana ramyaṃ devagandharvasevitam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : «Par hasard, Vṛkodara (Bhīma), l’arc à la main et l’épée encore non ceinte, tomba sur cette forêt délicieuse—fréquentée par les dieux et les Gandharvas—et en contempla la beauté.»

Word by Word

• यदृच्छया: by chance, accidentally
• यदृच्छया: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदृच्छा
• Form: Avyaya (instrumental sense: 'by chance')

• धनुष्पाणिः: one having a bow in hand (bow-armed)
• धनुष्पाणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्पाणि
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• अबद्धखड्गः: one whose sword is unfastened/unbound
• अबद्धखड्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबद्धखड्ग
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• वृकोदरः: Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• ददर्श: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (liṭ), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• रम्यम्: charming, delightful
• रम्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्: frequented/served by gods and gandharvas
• देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवगन्धर्वसेवित
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular; past passive participle (क्त) of √सेव् with upapada-compound देवगन्धर्व

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• forest (vana)
• bow (dhanuṣ)
• sword (khaḍga)
• Devas
• Gandharvas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness: Bhīma is armed and alert, yet his movement is not driven by aggression. Even in exile, one may remain vigilant while appreciating beauty and maintaining restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma, wandering unexpectedly with bow in hand and sword unfastened, comes upon a beautiful forest frequented by gods and Gandharvas and gazes upon it.