Shloka 9
कामीकवन-समागमः
Kāmyaka Forest Meeting: Kṛṣṇa’s Visit; Mārkaṇḍeya and Nārada Arrive
निगृहौनं महाबाहुं ततः स भुजगस्तदा विमुच्यास्य भुजी पीनाविदं वचनमब्रवीत्,तब इस प्रकार महाबाहु भीमसेनको अपने वशमें करके उस भुजंगमने उनकी दोनों मोटी-मोटी भुजाओंको छोड़ दिया और इस प्रकार कहा--
nigṛhya enaṃ mahābāhuṃ tataḥ sa bhujagas tadā vimucyāsya bhujau pīnau idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Tendo subjugado Bhīmasena, o de braços poderosos, a serpente então soltou seus dois braços grossos e vigorosos e proferiu estas palavras. A cena ressalta que uma força avassaladora pode ser contida, não apenas para ferir, mas para criar o momento do conselho e da instrução moral.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint as a mark of higher power: the serpent subdues Bhīma but then releases him in order to speak, suggesting that strength is ethically meaningful when governed by self-control and used to open space for instruction rather than mere domination.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a serpent has overpowered Bhīma, then lets go of Bhīma’s arms and begins to address him—signaling a shift from physical confrontation to dialogue and counsel.