Shloka 22

Devanagari script

यत्नवानपि तु श्रीमॉल्लाडूलोद्धरणोद्धुर: । कपे: पार्श्रगतो भीमस्तस्थौ व्रीडानतानन:

Transliteration

yatnavān api tu śrīmāl lāḍūloddharaṇoddhuraḥ | kapeḥ pārśragato bhīmas tasthau vrīḍānatānanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Though he was energetic and strong, Bhīma—renowned for his prowess and now burdened by the effort of lifting and carrying the load—stood close by the monkey, his face lowered in shame. The scene underscores how pride is checked by a superior power, and how humility can arise when one recognizes the limits of one’s own strength.

Word by Word

यत्नवान्effortful, striving

अपिeven, although

तुbut, however

श्रीमाल्splendid, illustrious

लाडूल-उद्धरण-उद्धुरःburdened/occupied with lifting (the) Lāḍūla

कपेःof the monkey

पार्श्व-गतःgone to the side (standing beside)

भीमःBhīma

तस्थौstood

व्रीडा-नत-आननःwhose face was lowered in shame

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma

kapi (the monkey)

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?

Even great strength and fame do not remove human limitation; when confronted with a higher power or wiser being, one should accept correction and cultivate humility rather than cling to pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma, despite his effort and renowned might, becomes strained by the task (implied by the ‘burden of lifting’) and stands beside the monkey with a lowered, ashamed face—indicating he has been checked or humbled in this encounter.