Shloka 38

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

पापात्मा पापभावश्व कामबाणवशानुग: । अविनीतश्न दुष्टात्मा प्रत्याख्यात: पुन: पुन:,यह पापात्मा है; इसके मनमें पापकी ही वासना है। यह कामदेवके बाणोंसे विवश हो रहा है। उद्दण्ड और दुष्टात्मा तो है ही। मैंने बार-बार इसकी प्रार्थना ठुकरायी है

Transliteration

pāpātmā pāpabhāvaś ca kāmabāṇavaśānugaḥ | avinītaś ca duṣṭātmā pratyākhyātaḥ punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

C’est un homme pécheur, mû par une intention impie. Terrassé par les flèches du désir, il en suit la contrainte. Il est insolent et mauvais de nature. À maintes reprises, j’ai repoussé ses supplications.

Word by Word

पापात्माsinful-souled person

पापभावःone of sinful disposition

चand

कामबाणवशानुगःfollowing the power of Cupid's arrows (overcome by lust)

अविनीतःundisciplined, untrained

चand

दुष्टात्माwicked-souled person

प्रत्याख्यातःrejected, refused

पुनःagain

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

Kāma (as the force of desire, metaphorically)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrestrained desire (kāma) leads to moral downfall; a person ruled by lust becomes undisciplined and harmful. The verse frames self-control and ethical restraint as essential to dharma, and it justifies firm refusal of repeated improper advances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma denounces a man’s repeated, improper pursuit, describing him as sinful, lust-driven, insolent, and wicked. He states that he has repeatedly rejected the man’s requests, emphasizing both the offender’s moral failing and Bhīma’s refusal to enable it.