Shloka 2

बक-राक्षसस्य आह्वानम् तथा वृक्षयुद्धम्

Summons of Baka and the Tree-Weapon Engagement

Devanagari script

जड्घावातो ववौ चास्य शुचिशुक्रागमे यथा । आवर्जितलतावक्ष मार्ग चक्रे महाबल:,जैसे ज्येष्ठ और आषाढ़ मासके संधिकालमें जोर-जोरसे हवा चलने लगती है, उसी प्रकार उनकी पिंडलियोंके वेगपूर्वक संचालनसे आँधी-सी उठ रही थी। महाबली भीम जिस मार्गसे चलते, वहाँकी लताओं और वृक्षोंकों पैरोंसे रौॉदकर जमीनके बराबर कर देते थे

Transliteration

jaḍghāvāto vavau cāsya śuciśukrāgame yathā | āvarjitalatāvṛkṣa-mārgaṃ cakre mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Gaya ng mabangis na hanging humahampas sa pagsalubong ng mga buwang Jyeṣṭha at Āṣāḍha, gayon din ay tila may bugso ng hangin na sumisibol mula sa lakas ng galaw ng kaniyang mga binti. Ang makapangyarihang si Bhīma, saan man magtungo, ay lumilikha ng daan sa pagyurak sa mga baging at punò, dinudurog ang mga ito hanggang mapantay sa lupa.

Word by Word

• {'jaḍghāvātaḥ': 'a violent/impetuous wind

• a strong gust (metaphor for the force generated by movement)', 'vavau': 'blew (from √vā, ‘to blow’)', 'cāsya': 'and of him / for him', 'yathā': 'just as', 'śuci-śukra-āgame': 'at the coming/approach of the bright months (interpreted here as the seasonal junction around Jyeṣṭha–Āṣāḍha)', 'āvarjita': 'turned aside, swept away, trampled down', 'latā': 'creeper, vine', 'vṛkṣa': 'tree', 'mārgaṃ': 'path, track', 'cakre': 'made, created (from √kṛ)', 'mahābalaḥ': 'one of great strength (epithet

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīma
• Jyeṣṭha (month)
• Āṣāḍha (month)
• wind
• creepers (latā)
• trees (vṛkṣa)
• path (mārga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic ideal of overwhelming physical prowess harnessed for purposeful movement; it also uses nature-simile to suggest that great power leaves visible consequences, inviting reflection on how strength should be directed responsibly within dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma moving with such force that it seems like a storm-wind is generated by his stride; as he advances, he crushes creepers and trees, creating a clear path through the terrain.