Shloka 21

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 23: Report of the Slain Sūtaputras, Royal Orders, and Sairandhrī’s Return

Devanagari script

त॑ नागवदुपक्रम्य बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य च । स्कन्धमारोपयामास दशबव्यामं परंतप:,उस वृक्षकी ऊँचाई दस व्याम थी। उसे शत्रुतापन भीमसेनने दोनों भुजाओंमें भरकर हाथीके समान जोर लगाकर उखाड़ा और अपने कंधेपर रख लिया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca |

taṁ nāgavad upakramya bāhubhyāṁ parirabhya ca |

skandham āropayāmāsa daśa-vyāmaṁ paraṁtapaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Mendekatinya seperti seekor gajah, Bhīma yang menghanguskan musuh memeluk pokok itu dengan kedua-dua belah tangan; dengan tenaga yang dahsyat dia mencabut batang setinggi sepuluh vyāma itu lalu mengangkatnya ke atas bahunya.

Word by Word

तम्him/that (one)

नागवत्like an elephant

उपक्रम्यhaving approached

बाहुभ्याम्with (his) two arms

परिरभ्यhaving embraced/clasped

चand

स्कन्धम्shoulder

आरोपयामासhe placed/caused to mount (on)

दशव्यामम्ten-vyāma (ten arm-spans) long/high

परंतपःthe foe-scorcher (Bhīma)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma (implied by paraṁtapaḥ and context)

tree (object)

vyāma (unit of measure)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Physical power is portrayed as meaningful when directed toward rightful purpose—protecting others and fulfilling one’s duty—rather than mere display; Bhīma’s strength serves the larger dharmic aim of safeguarding his brothers during their vulnerable incognito period.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma approaches a tall tree, grips it with both arms like an elephant, uproots it with force, and carries it on his shoulder, emphasizing his extraordinary might within the events of the Virāṭa episode.