Shloka 19
Nahūṣa as Ajagara: Virtue Hierarchy, Karmic Gati, and the Psychology of Mind–Intellect
दीपो5भवद् यत्र वृकोदरस्य युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठ: अमोक्षयद् यस्तमनन्ततेजा ग्राहेण संवेष्टितसर्वगात्रम्,उस अवसरपर धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ अत्यन्त तेजस्वी युधिष्ठिर भीमसेनके लिये द्वीपकी भाँति अवलम्ब हो गये। अजगरने भीमसेनके सम्पूर्ण शरीरको लपेट लिया था, परंतु युधिष्ठिरने (अजगरको उसके प्रश्नोंके उत्तरद्वारा संतुष्ट करके) उन्हें छुड़ा दिया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
dīpo 'bhavad yatra vṛkodarasya yudhiṣṭhiro dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ |
amokṣayad yas tam anantatejā grāheṇa saṃveṣṭita-sarvagātram ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In that crisis, Yudhiṣṭhira—foremost among the upholders of dharma—became like an island-lamp of refuge for Vṛkodara (Bhīma). For when the serpent had coiled around Bhīma’s entire body, the infinitely radiant Yudhiṣṭhira freed him—by steady adherence to dharma and by satisfying the captor through right answers rather than by violence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely strength but discerning conduct: Yudhiṣṭhira saves Bhīma not by brute force but by truthful, composed, and ethically grounded speech that resolves the crisis without needless violence.
Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is seized and fully constricted by an ajagara (serpent). Yudhiṣṭhira becomes his support and secures Bhīma’s release by engaging the captor through questions and answers, satisfying it and thereby freeing his brother.