Shloka 25

भीमस्य बल्लव-प्रतिज्ञा तथा अर्जुनस्य बृहन्नडा-रूप-निर्णयः

Bhīma’s Ballava Vow and Arjuna’s Decision to Become Bṛhannadā

Devanagari script

अजुन उवाच प्रतिज्ञां पण्ढको5स्मीति करिष्यामि महीपते । ज्याघातौ हि महान्तौ मे संवर्तु नृप दुष्करी

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca pratijñāṃ paṇḍako ’smīti kariṣyāmi mahīpate | jyāghātau hi mahāntau me saṃvartuṃ nṛpa duṣkarī ||

Translation

அர்ஜுனன் கூறினான்: மண்ணின் அரசனே, ‘நான் பாண்டகன் (நபுஞ்சகன்)’ என்று நான் உறுதி மொழி கொள்வேன்; ஆனால் அரசே, அதை நிலைநிறுத்துவது எனக்கு கடினம்—என் வில்லின் நாண் ஒலி மிகப் பெரிது, என் வில்லின் வலிமையும் அளவற்றது.

Word by Word

अर्जुनःArjuna

उवाचsaid

प्रतिज्ञाम्a vow, promise

पण्डकःa eunuch (as a disguise/role)

अस्मिI am

इतिthus, saying

करिष्यामिI will do/make (I will undertake)

महीपतेO king (lord of the earth)

ज्याघातौthe twang/striking of the bowstring (two loud sounds)

हिindeed, for

महान्तौgreat, loud

मेof me, my

संवर्तुlet them be/occur

नृपO king

दुष्करीdifficult (to do)

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

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 highlights dharma as disciplined self-restraint: even a mighty warrior must curb visible signs of power to uphold a chosen vow and protect a larger ethical goal (safeguarding the incognito period and the welfare of his brothers).

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna tells the king that he will adopt the identity of a paṇḍaka (eunuch) as part of the Pāṇḍavas’ concealment, but notes the practical difficulty: his natural martial prowess—symbolized by the loud twang and strength of his bow—could betray him.