Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 17

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच त॑ मत्तमिव मातजुूं वीक्षमाणं वनस्पतिम्‌ । अब्रवीद्‌ भ्रातरं वीरं धर्मराजो युधिषछ्िर:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | taṁ mattam iva mātaṅgaṁ vīkṣamāṇaṁ vanaspatim | abravīd bhrātaraṁ vīraṁ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు అన్నాడు—రాజా, ఇలా చెప్పిన తరువాత భీమసేనుడు మదించిన గజరాజువలె ఆ వృక్షాన్ని ఏకాగ్రంగా తిలకించాడు. అప్పుడు ధర్మరాజు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు తన వీర సోదరునితో ఇలా అన్నాడు—

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मत्तम्: intoxicated, frenzied
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• मातङ्गम्: elephant
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीक्षमाणम्: looking at, observing
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष्
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वनस्पतिम्: tree
• वनस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरम्: heroic, brave
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मराजः: Dharma-king (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)
• Bhīmasena
• tree (vanaspati)
• elephant (mātaṅga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical pivot from impulsive force to dharmic restraint: Bhīma’s fierce, almost uncontrolled readiness is met by Yudhiṣṭhira’s role as Dharmarāja, who intervenes through counsel so that action aligns with prudence and righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

After speaking, Bhīma keeps glaring at a particular tree with the intensity of a maddened elephant. Observing this charged posture, Yudhiṣṭhira turns to address his brave brother, preparing to guide or moderate the next step in the unfolding situation.