Shloka 18
Nahūṣa as Ajagara: Virtue Hierarchy, Karmic Gati, and the Psychology of Mind–Intellect
तत्राससादातिबलं भुजड़ं क्षुधार्दितं मृत्युमिवोग्ररूपम् वृकोदर: पर्वतकन्दरायां विषादमोहव्यथितान्तरात्मा,उसी यात्रामें भीमसेन एक दिन पर्वतकी कन्दरामें भूखसे पीड़ित एक अजगरके पास जा पहुँचे, जो अत्यन्त बलवान होनेके साथ ही मृत्युके समान भयानक था। उस समय उनकी अनन््तरात्मा विषाद एवं मोहसे व्यथित हो उठी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tatrāsasādātibalaṃ bhujaṅgaṃ kṣudhārditaṃ mṛtyum ivograrūpam | vṛkodaraḥ parvatakandarāyāṃ viṣādamohavyathitāntarātmā ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。そこでヴリコーダラ（ビーマ）は、山の洞窟において、飢えに苦しむ大蛇に遭遇した。力は並外れて強く、その姿は死そのもののように凄まじかった。その時、彼の内奥は憂いと迷いに痛めつけられ、揺らいだのである。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical and psychological test: even a hero famed for strength can be shaken by viṣāda (dejection) and moha (delusion). It hints that dharma requires inner steadiness and discernment, not merely physical power, especially when confronted with fearsome, death-like situations.
Bhīma (Vṛkodara) reaches a mountain cave and encounters a terrifying, extremely powerful serpent, driven by hunger and described as resembling Death. Bhīma’s inner mind becomes troubled by dejection and confusion, foreshadowing a challenging encounter and its moral implications.