Shloka 188

समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः

Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī

Devanagari script

भीमस्य ग्रहणं चात्र पर्वताभोगवर्ष्मणा । भुजगेन्द्रेण बलिना तस्मिन्‌ सुगहने वने,फिर एक बीहड़ वनमें पर्वतके समान विशाल शरीरधारी बलवान्‌ अजगरने भीमसेनको पकड़ लिया

Transliteration

bhīmasya grahaṇaṃ cātra parvatābhogavarṣmaṇā | bhujagendreṇa balinā tasmin sugahane vane ||

Translation

Doon, sa masukal at mapanganib na gubat, sinunggaban si Bhīma ng isang makapangyarihang panginoon ng mga ahas—malaki ang katawan na wari’y bundok. Ipinakikita ng pangyayaring ito na kahit ang dakilang lakas ay maaaring biglang mapigil ng di-inaasahang puwersa; kaya kailangan ang katatagan, malinaw na paghatol, at pag-asa sa wastong payo, hindi sa lakas ng katawan lamang.

Word by Word

भीमस्यof Bhima

ग्रहणम्seizure, capture

चand

अत्रhere

पर्वताभोगवर्ष्मणाby (one) whose body is like a mountain in bulk

भुजगेन्द्रेणby the lord of serpents (great serpent)

बलिनाby the strong (one)

तस्मिन्in that

सुगहनेvery dense, impenetrable

वनेin the forest

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Bhujagendra (great serpent/ajagara)

Dense forest (sugahana vana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Physical might alone is not sufficient; sudden adversity can overpower even the strongest. The ethical emphasis is on composure, humility, and seeking wise means (dharma-guided response) when confronted by unexpected danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a thick, hard-to-traverse forest, a gigantic and powerful serpent (bhujagendra/ajagara), mountain-like in size, catches and restrains Bhīma.