Shloka 5

Hiḍimbā’s Petition, Conditional Union with Bhīma, and the Birth-Naming of Ghaṭotkaca (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४३)

Devanagari script

कथ्यमाने तथा रम्ये नगरे वारणावते । गमने पाण्डुपुत्राणां जज्ञे तत्र मतिर्नूप,राजन्‌! वारणावत नगरकी रमणीयताका जब इस प्रकार (यत्र-तत्र) वर्णन होने लगा, तब पाण्डवोंके मनमें वहाँ जानेका विचार उत्पन्न हुआ

Transliteration

kathyamāne tathā ramye nagare vāraṇāvate | gamane pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ jajñe tatra matir nṛpa-rājan ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: As the charming city of Vāraṇāvata was being spoken of in such attractive terms, a resolve arose there in the minds of Pāṇḍu’s sons to go to that place, O king.

Word by Word

कथ्यमानेwhile being described / as it was being told

तथाthus, in that manner

रम्येin the delightful (one)

नगरेin the city

वारणावतेin Vāraṇāvata

गमनेin (the matter of) going

पाण्डुपुत्राणाम्of the sons of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)

जज्ञेarose, was born

तत्रthere

मतिःthought, intention

नृपO king

राजन्O king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍuputrāḥ (the Pāṇḍavas)

Vāraṇāvata

nṛpa-rājan (the king addressed, i.e., Janamejaya)

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?

The verse highlights how persuasive descriptions and public talk can shape decisions—an ethical reminder to examine motives and consequences behind attractive proposals, especially in politically charged contexts.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Vāraṇāvata is repeatedly praised as a delightful city, the Pāṇḍavas develop the intention to travel there—setting up the next phase of events connected with the Kauravas’ plot against them.