Mahabharata — Vana Parva, Shloka 3
प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile
त॑ं शंससि भयाविष्टमापन्नमरिसूदनम् एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रीतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
taṁ śaṁsasi bhayāviṣṭam āpannam arisūdanam | etad icchāmy ahaṁ śrotuṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me ||
ジャナメージャヤは言った。「あなたは、敵を討つビーマセーナが恐怖に囚われ、苦境に落ちたと語る。私はその次第を余すところなく聞きたい。なぜなら私の好奇心は甚だしく掻き立てられているからだ——力を誇ってプラスタヤの子クベーラにさえ挑み、クベーラの湖プシュカリニーの岸で多くのヤクシャとラークシャサを討ったその英雄が、いかにして恐れおののき、悩まされたというのか。」
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even renowned strength and past victories do not guarantee immunity from fear or adversity; it invites reflection on the instability of worldly power and the need to understand causes and context before judging a person’s present condition.
King Janamejaya challenges the narrator’s claim that Bhīma is frightened and distressed, citing Bhīma’s earlier feats against Kubera’s Yakṣas and Rākṣasas at Puṣkariṇī, and asks to hear the full account of what led to this surprising change.