Shloka 3

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

एते पञ्च महाशज्भा: पर्वता: शीतलद्रुमा: । रक्षन्तीवाभिसंहत्य संहताड़ा गिरिव्रजम्‌,तात! यहाँ विहारोपयोगी विपुल, वराह, वृषभ (ऋषभ), ऋषिगिरि (मातंग) तथा पाँचवाँ चैत्यक नामक पर्वत है। बड़े-बड़े शिखरोंवाले ये पाँचों सुन्दर पर्वत शीतल छायावाले वृक्षोंसे सुशोभित हैं और एक साथ मिलकर एक-दूसरेके शरीरका स्पर्श करते हुए मानो गिरिव्रज नगरकी रक्षा कर रहे हैं

Transliteration

ete pañca mahāśṛṅgāḥ parvatāḥ śītaladrumāḥ | rakṣantīvābhisaṃhatya saṃhatāḍhā girivrajam, tāta |

Translation

एते पञ्च महाशृङ्गाः पर्वताः शीतलद्रुमाः। रक्षन्तीवाभिसंहत्य संहताङ्गा गिरिव्रजम्॥

Word by Word

एतेthese

पञ्चfive

महाशृङ्गाःhaving great peaks

पर्वताःmountains

शीतलद्रुमाःhaving cool trees (cool-shaded with trees)

रक्षन्तिthey protect

इवas if

अभिसंहत्यhaving gathered together / uniting

संहताjoined together / compact

गिरिव्रजम्Girivraja (the city enclosed by hills)

तातdear one / O father (term of address)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Girivraja

Five mountains (Varāha, Vipula, Vṛṣabha/Ṛṣabha, Ṛṣigiri/Mātaṅga, Caityaka)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses nature imagery to convey the idea of protection through unity: the mountains, standing together and ‘touching’ one another, symbolize collective strength that safeguards a realm—an implicit ethical ideal for communities and rulers.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is describing the landscape around Girivraja, pointing out five prominent, tree-covered mountains whose clustered formation appears to function like a natural fortress guarding the city.