Shloka 32

प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile

Devanagari script

नागायुतसमप्राण: सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुज: गृहीतो व्यजहात्‌ सत्त्वं वरदानविमोहितः,उनकी प्राणशक्ति दस सहस्र हाथियोंके समान थी। दोनों कंधे सिंहके कंधोंके समान थे और भुजाएँ बहुत बड़ी थीं। फिर भी सर्पको मिले हुए वरदानके प्रभावसे मोहित हो जानेके कारण सर्पकी पकड़में आकर वे अपना साहस खो बैठे

Transliteration

nāgāyutasamaprāṇaḥ siṁhaskandho mahābhujaḥ gṛhīto vyajahāt sattvaṁ varadānavimohitaḥ

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Хотя жизненная сила его была как у десяти тысяч слонов, плечи — как у льва, а руки — могучие, будучи схвачен, он утратил отвагу: разум его был омрачен даром, данным тому змею.

Word by Word

नागायुतसमप्राणःwhose life-breath/strength was equal to ten-thousand elephants

सिंहस्कन्धःhaving shoulders like a lion

महाभुजःhaving great/large arms

गृहीतःseized/caught

व्यजहात्abandoned/gave up

सत्त्वम्vitality/courage/strength

वरदानविमोहितःdeluded by the boon-gift (i.e., by the granted boon)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

serpent (nāga/sarpa)

boon (vara)

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 might and heroic attributes do not guarantee steadiness; when the mind is clouded by moha and when a boon-backed power operates, even the strong can lose resolve. The verse highlights the ethical need for inner clarity and humility before forces sanctioned by dharma or divine ordinance.

What is happening in the narrative?

A powerful, lion-shouldered, mighty-armed figure is caught in a serpent’s grip. Despite immense vitality—likened to ten thousand elephants—he becomes bewildered due to the serpent’s boon and, once seized, abandons his courage.