Shloka 35

Bhīmasena’s Discourse on Kāla, Resolve, and the Feasibility of Ajñātavāsa (भीमसेनस्य कालोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

वनादस्माच्च कौन्तेय वनमन्यद्‌ विचिन्त्यताम्‌ । निवासार्थाय यत्‌ युक्त भवेद्‌ व: पृथिवीपते,“कुन्तीकुमार! पृथिवीपते! अब तुम अपने निवासके लिये इस वनसे किसी दूसरे वनमें, जो तुम्हारे लिये उपयोगी हो, जानेकी बात सोचो

Transliteration

vanād asmāc ca kaunteya vanam anyad vicintyatām | nivāsārthāya yat yuktaṁ bhaved vaḥ pṛthivīpate ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O son of Kuntī, O lord of the earth, now consider leaving this forest and seeking another forest that will be suitable for your residence. Choose a place that truly serves your needs, so that your life in exile may proceed with safety, restraint, and steadiness.”

Word by Word

• वनात्: from the forest
• वनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kuntī
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विचिन्त्यताम्: let it be considered / please consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त्
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/Impersonal (भावे प्रयोगः)

• निवासार्थाय: for the purpose of dwelling
• निवासार्थाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवासार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• यत्: which (that which)
• यत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• युक्तम्: suitable / proper
• युक्तम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: may be / should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Vidhi-lin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Third, Singular, Active

• वः: for you (pl.)
• वः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Plural, Second

• पृथिवीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• व्यास (Vyāsa)
• कौन्तेय (Kaunteya—son of Kuntī, i.e., a Pāṇḍava, commonly Yudhiṣṭhira)
• पृथिवीपति (Pṛthivīpati—king/lord of the earth)
• वन (forest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wise leadership includes practical discernment: one should choose a dwelling that is truly suitable for sustaining dharma—supporting safety, stability, and disciplined living—especially during hardship like exile.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses the Pāṇḍavas’ leader (Kaunteya, the king) and advises them to leave the present forest and deliberate on another forest better suited for their residence during exile.