Shloka 19

Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

प्रत्राजनं च नगरादजिनैश्न विवासनम्‌ । महारण्यनिवासश्न न तस्य स्मर्तुमहसि,“आप नगरसे निकाले गये, आपको मृगछाला पहनाकर वनवास दे दिया गया और बड़े-बड़े जंगलोंमें आपको रहना पड़ा। क्या इन सब बातोंको आप याद नहीं कर सकते?

Transliteration

pratrājanaṃ ca nagarād ajinaiś ca nivāsanam | mahāraṇya-nivāsaṃ ca na tasya smartum arhasi ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «Тебя изгнали из города, заставили носить оленью шкуру и отправили жить в глушь. Тебе пришлось обитать в необъятных лесах. Как ты мог забыть это?»

Word by Word

प्रत्राजनम्banishment/expulsion (from kingship/realm)

चand

नगरात्from the city

अजिनैःwith animal-skins

निवासनम्causing to dwell (exile)/making to reside

महाgreat

अरण्यforest

निवासम्dwelling/residence

नnot

तस्यof that/its

स्मर्तुम्to remember

अर्हसिyou ought/are able (to)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

city (nagara)

deerskin garments (ajina)

great forest/wilderness (mahāraṇya)

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 appeals to moral memory: one who has endured injustice and hardship should not forget it, because remembrance supports discernment, accountability, and dharmic judgment rather than complacency or self-deception.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana recalls a person’s past humiliation—expulsion from the city, being made to wear deerskin, and forced forest-dwelling—using these facts as a pointed reminder that such experiences should not be ignored or forgotten when reflecting on conduct and consequences.