Shloka 47

Kubera’s Arrival and the Disclosure of Agastya’s Curse

Vaiśaṃpāyana–Janamejaya Narrative

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु भीमेन राक्षस: कालचोदित: । भीत उत्सृज्य तान्‌ सर्वान्‌ युद्धाय समुपस्थित:,भीमसेनके ऐसा कहनेपर वह राक्षस भयभीत हो उन सबको छोड़कर कालकी प्रेरणासे युद्धके लिये उद्यत हो गया

Transliteration

evam uktas tu bhīmena rākṣasaḥ kālacoditaḥ | bhīta utsṛjya tān sarvān yuddhāya samupasthitaḥ ||

Translation

Thus addressed by Bhīma, the rākṣasa—driven on by Time (fate)—became afraid; releasing all of them, he stepped forward, ready for battle. The verse underscores how fear and destiny together can force a violent confrontation, even when restraint (letting the captives go) briefly appears.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut/indeed

भीमेनby Bhima

राक्षसःthe rakshasa (demon)

कालचोदितःimpelled by Time (fate)

भीतःfrightened

उत्सृज्यhaving abandoned/left

तान्those

सर्वान्all

युद्धायfor battle

समुपस्थितःstood ready / approached

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Rākṣasa

Kāla (Time/Fate)

captives (unnamed: tān sarvān)

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 the Mahābhārata theme of Kāla (Time/fate) as a compelling force: even when a moment of restraint occurs (releasing the captives), fear and destiny can still propel beings toward violence. Ethically, it suggests that inner states (bhaya) and larger inevitabilities (kāla) shape action, so vigilance and self-mastery are crucial.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Bhīma speaks to him, the rākṣasa becomes frightened, lets the captives go, and then—driven by Kāla—comes forward prepared to fight Bhīma.