Shloka 4

Karma, Preta-gati, and the Continuity of Phala

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

भीम उवाच अयमार्य महासत्वो भक्षार्थ मां गृहीतवान्‌ । नहुषो नाम राजर्षि: प्राणवानिव संस्थित:,भीम बोले--आर्य! ये वायुभक्षी सर्पके रूपमें बैठे हुए महान्‌ शक्तिशाली साक्षात्‌ राजर्षि नहुष हैं, इन्होंने मुझे अपना आहार बनानेके लिये पकड़ रखा है

Transliteration

bhīma uvāca | ayam ārya mahāsattvo bhakṣārthaṁ māṁ gṛhītavān | nahuṣo nāma rājarṣiḥ prāṇavān iva saṁsthitaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīma said: “O noble one, this mighty being has seized me as food. He is the royal sage named Nahuṣa, sitting here as though alive.”

Word by Word

भीमःBhima

उवाचsaid

अयम्this (one)

आर्यःnoble one

महासत्त्वःof great might/strength

भक्षार्थम्for eating (as food)

माम्me

गृहीतवान्has seized/has taken hold of

नहुषःNahusha

नामby name

राजर्षिःroyal sage

प्राणवान्alive, living

इवas if, like

संस्थितःstanding/remaining, situated

Speaker

भीम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīma

Nahuṣa

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?

Power and status (even that of a rājarṣi) do not guarantee righteousness; the episode frames ethical reflection on pride, downfall, and the need to respond to danger with discernment rather than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma reports to his companion that a formidable being—identified as the royal sage Nahuṣa—has taken him captive with the intent to devour him, describing Nahuṣa’s uncanny, life-like presence as he sits there.