Shloka 8

कामीकवन-समागमः

Kāmyaka Forest Meeting: Kṛṣṇa’s Visit; Mārkaṇḍeya and Nārada Arrive

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्येवंवादिनं वीर भीममक्लिष्टकारिणम्‌ भोगेन महता गृहा समन्तात्‌ पर्यवेष्टयत्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-जनमेजय! ऐसी बातें करनेवाले वीरवर भीमसेनको, जो अनायास ही महान्‌ पराक्रम कर दिखानेवाले थे, उस अजगरने अपने विशाल शरीरसे जकड़कर चारों ओरसे लपेट लिया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | ityevaṃ-vādinaṃ vīraṃ bhīmam akliṣṭa-kāriṇam | bhogena mahatā gṛhā samantāt paryaveṣṭayat ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, as Bhīma—the heroic man of effortless, unwearied prowess—spoke in this manner, the python coiled its huge body around him and tightly enveloped him on all sides.”

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

इतिthus

एवम्in this manner

वादिनम्one who was speaking

वीरO hero

भीमम्Bhīma

अक्लिष्टकारिणम्one who acts without strain; unwearied doer

भोगेनwith (its) coil/body

महतāgreat, huge

गृहाhouses/dwellings

समन्तात्on all sides

पर्यवेष्टयत्wrapped/encircled

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Ajagara (python/serpent)

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?

Physical power alone is not sovereign: even a hero famed for effortless prowess can be checked by circumstances. The scene prepares for reflection on humility, self-control, and the limits of mere strength within dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Bhīma speaks, a massive python (ajagara) coils its body around him and constricts him from all sides, physically restraining the Pandava hero and escalating the danger in the forest episode.