Shloka 16
Gandhamādana-praveśa and Vṛṣaparvan-āśrama
Entry toward Gandhamādana; hospitality and onward route
गृह्नीत बध्नीत विकर्ततेम॑ं पचाम खादाम च भीमसेनम् | क्रुद्धा ब्रुवन्तो डभिययुर्द्रतं ते शस्त्राणि चोट्यम्य विवृत्तनेत्रा:,“अरे! इसे पकड़ो, बाँध लो, काट डालो, हम सब लोग इस भीमको पकायेंगे और खा जायँगे।” क्रोधपूर्वक उपर्युक्त बातें कहते और आँखें फाड़-फाड़कर देखते हुए वे सभी राक्षस शस्त्र उठाकर तुरंत उनकी ओर दौड़े
gṛhṇīta badhnīta vikartatemaṃ pacāma khādāma ca bhīmasenam | kruddhā bruvanto ’bhi yayur drutaṃ te śastrāṇi coṭyamya vivṛttanetrāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Seize him! Bind him! Cut him to pieces! Let us cook and eat Bhīmasena!” Thus shouting in fury, with eyes wide and glaring, those rākṣasas swiftly rushed toward him, brandishing their weapons—an image of unrestrained violence and predatory intent set against the Pandavas’ struggle to uphold themselves amid lawless threats in the forest.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the nature of adharma as uncontrolled rage and predation: the rākṣasas’ intent to bind, mutilate, and consume a human being shows a collapse of restraint and moral order. In the Vana Parva context, such threats underscore why the Pandavas must remain vigilant and steadfast in self-protection while living in exile among lawless forces.
A group of rākṣasas, furious and shouting commands to seize and kill, rush quickly toward Bhīmasena with weapons raised, eyes glaring. The scene sets up an imminent violent confrontation centered on Bhīma as the target.