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Shloka 253

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproof and Vow-Logic: On Dice-Deception, Exile Terms, and the Governance of Anger

Adhyāya 35

हस्ती श्वेत इवाज्ञात: कथं जिष्णुश्नरिष्यति । जहाँ जलकी अधिकता हो, ऐसे प्रदेशमें शाखा, पुष्प और पत्तोंसे सुशोभित विशाल शालवृक्षके समान अथवा श्वेत गजराज ऐरावतके सदृश ये अर्जुन कहीं भी अज्ञात कैसे रह सकेंगे?

Bhīmasena uvāca — hastī śveta ivājñātaḥ kathaṁ jiṣṇur na riṣyati?

ビー マセーナは言った。「白象のごとき者が、どうしてジシュヌ(アルジュナ)が人知れずでいられようか。いかなる国においても——とりわけ水の豊かな地では——彼は、枝・花・葉に飾られた巨大なシャーラ樹のように、あるいは白き象王アイラーヴァタ(Airāvata)のように、ひときわ輝いて目立つ。どうしてアルジュナが、知られずにいられようか。」

हस्तीan elephant
हस्ती:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहस्तिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्वेतःwhite
श्वेतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्वेत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अज्ञातःunknown/undiscovered
अज्ञातः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअज्ञात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कथम्how
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
जिष्णुःJishnu (Arjuna)
जिष्णुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजिष्णु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
रिष्यतिwill remain / will stay (undetected)
रिष्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootरिष्
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular

भीमसेन उवाच

B
Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
J
Jiṣṇu (Arjuna)
A
Airāvata
Ś
śāla tree
W
white elephant

Educational Q&A

Extraordinary qualities and fame are difficult to conceal; prudence in strategy requires acknowledging how visible a renowned person becomes, even when attempting secrecy.

Bhīma comments on the impracticality of keeping Arjuna hidden or unknown, using vivid similes (a white elephant, a majestic śāla tree, Airāvata) to stress that Arjuna’s presence would inevitably be recognized.