Shloka 23
प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile
अतकिक्रान्तास्तु वेगेन जगामानुसूत: शनै: ततो5मरवरप्रख्यो भीमसेनो महाबल:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: atikrāntās tu vegena jagāma anusūtaḥ śanaiḥ; tato ’maravaraprakhyo bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ.
अतिक्रान्तास्तु ते वेगेन जग्मुरत्यन्तभीतवत्। भीमसेनस्तु शनकैस्ततोऽन्वयात् महाबलः॥ ततः स अमरवरप्रख्यो भीमसेनो महाबलः। ददर्शाजगरं घोरं लोमहर्षणदर्शनम्॥ गिरिदुर्गे निविष्टं तं कायेनावृत्य कन्दरम्। दुर्गमे गिरिदेशेऽसौ न्यवसद्भीषणाकृतिः॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadiness and fearlessness: Bhīma does not rush blindly but advances with controlled resolve, confronting danger directly. It also frames heroic strength as disciplined action rather than mere speed or aggression.
Bhīma’s lion-roar terrifies the cave-dwelling serpents, who flee at great speed. Bhīma follows them and then comes upon a gigantic python occupying a cavern in a remote, difficult mountain location.