Shloka 61

Bhīmasena–Hanūmān Saṃvāda: The Tail Test and the Divine Path

Devanagari script

दध्मौ च शड्खं स्वनवत्‌ सर्वप्राणेन पाण्डव: । आस्फोटयच्च बलवान्‌ भीम: संनादयन्‌ दिश:,उस समय बलवान पाण्डुनन्दन भीमने अपनी सारी शक्ति लगाकर बड़े जोरसे शंख बजाया और सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको प्रतिध्वनित करते हुए ताल ठोंका। उस शंखकी ध्वनि, भीमसेनकी गर्जना और उनके ताल ठोंकनेके भयंकर शब्दसे मानो पर्वतोंकी कन्दराएँ गूँज उठीं

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | dadhmau ca śaṅkhaṃ svanavat sarvaprāṇena pāṇḍavaḥ | āsphoṭayac ca balavān bhīmaḥ saṃnādayan diśaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then the Pāṇḍava—mighty Bhīma—blew his conch with the full force of his breath, and, making the quarters resound, he clapped his arms in a thunderous challenge. The conch-blast, his roar, and the fierce sound of his arm-clapping seemed to set even the mountain-caves echoing—an outward sign of unwavering resolve and fearless readiness in the face of trial.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'दध्मौ (dadhmau)', 'definition': 'blew (a conch)

• sounded'}, {'term': 'शङ्खम् (śaṅkham)', 'definition': 'conch-shell (used as a signal/instrument)'}, {'term': 'स्वनवत् (svanavat)', 'definition': 'with a loud sound

• resoundingly'}, {'term': 'सर्वप्राणेन (sarvaprāṇena)', 'definition': 'with all one’s breath/strength

• with full force'}, {'term': 'पाण्डवः (pāṇḍavaḥ)', 'definition': 'a son/descendant of Pāṇḍu

• here referring to Bhīma as a Pāṇḍava'}, {'term': 'आस्फोटयत् (āsphoṭayat)', 'definition': 'clapped (arms)

• made a cracking sound (a warrior’s challenge-gesture)'}, {'term': 'बलवान् (balavān)', 'definition': 'strong, mighty'}, {'term': 'भीमः (bhīmaḥ)', 'definition': 'Bhīma (Bhīmasena), the powerful Pāṇḍava'}, {'term': 'संनादयन् (saṃnādayan)', 'definition': 'causing to resound

• making reverberate'}, {'term': 'दिशः (diśaḥ)', 'definition': 'the directions/quarters'}]

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Pāṇḍava
• śaṅkha (conch)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast courage and determined readiness: Bhīma’s powerful conch-blast and arm-clapping symbolize inner resolve made visible through disciplined, fearless action when facing adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma, the mighty Pāṇḍava, forcefully blows a conch and claps his arms so loudly that the directions reverberate—an emphatic martial signal and challenge that amplifies the scene’s intensity.