Shloka 75

Bhīmasena–Hanūmān Saṃvāda: The Tail Test and the Divine Path

Devanagari script

कदलीवनमध्यस्थमथ पीने शिलातले । ददर्श सुमहाबाहुर्वानराधिपतिं तदा,उस समय विशाल भुजाओंवाले भीमसेनने कदलीवनके भीतर ही एक मोटे शिलाखण्डपर लेटे हुए वानरराज हनुमानजीको देखा

Transliteration

kadalīvanamadhyastham atha pīne śilātale | dadarśa sumahābāhur vānarādhipatiṃ tadā ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Então Bhīmasena, o herói de braços poderosos, viu o senhor dos macacos, Hanumān, deitado sobre uma larga e sólida laje de pedra no meio do bananal.

Word by Word

कदलीवनमध्यस्थम्situated in the middle of the banana-grove

अथthen

पीनेon a thick/massive

शिलातलेon the rock-surface (stone-slab)

ददर्शsaw

सुमहाबाहुःthe very-strong-armed one (Bhīma)

वानराधिपतिम्the lord of monkeys (Hanumān)

तदाat that time

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Hanumān

kadalīvana (plantain grove)

śilātala (rock slab)

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?

The verse frames a moral contrast: raw physical power (Bhīma) is brought into the presence of a higher, disciplined strength (Hanumān). The implied teaching is that true might is guided by humility and dharma, and that pride in strength should yield to reverence for virtue and experience.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the forest setting, Bhīma comes upon Hanumān—described as the monkey-lord—resting on a massive rock within a plantain grove. This sight initiates the well-known episode in which Bhīma’s confidence is tested and he is led toward a deeper understanding of strength, duty, and kinship.