Shloka 18

प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile

Devanagari script

चिरसम्बद्धदर्पस्तु भीमसेनो वने तदा गजेन्द्राश्न महासत्त्वा मृगेन्द्राश्ष महाबला:

Transliteration

cirasambaddhadarpas tu bhīmaseno vane tadā | gajendrāś ca mahāsattvā mṛgendrāś ca mahābalāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: At that time, in the forest, Bhīmasena—his pride long held in check—encountered mighty beings: lordly elephants of great spirit and powerful kings of beasts. The scene underscores how the wilderness tests human strength and self-control, confronting a warrior with forces that demand restraint as much as valor.

Word by Word

• चिरसम्बद्धदर्पः: whose pride had long been bound/held (long-cherished pride)
• चिरसम्बद्धदर्पः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर-सम्बद्ध-दर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena (Bhima)
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• गजेन्द्राश्नः: elephant-lord-eater (lion; lit. eater of lordly elephants)
• गजेन्द्राश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजेन्द्राश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महासत्त्वः: of great might/being a great creature
• महासत्त्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महासत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मृगेन्द्राश्नः: lion-eater (a stronger beast; lit. eater of the lord of beasts)
• मृगेन्द्राश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगेन्द्राश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• forest (vana)
• gajendra (great elephants)
• mṛgendra (lions / lords of beasts)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power is not merely physical might; it is also the capacity to restrain pride and act with self-control when confronted by formidable forces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma in the forest at a moment when he faces powerful wild creatures—great elephants and lions—setting a tone of trial and confrontation during the Pāṇḍavas’ exile.