Shloka 38

Indrajit’s Binding, Restoration by Viśalyā, and Counsel Restraining Rāvaṇa (Āraṇyaka Parva 273)

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुष: स्वप्तुकामस्त्वतीन्द्रिय: । फटासहस्रविकटं शेषं पर्यड्कभाजनम्‌

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā puruṣaḥ svaptukāmas tv atīndriyaḥ | phaṭāsahasravikaṭaṃ śeṣaṃ paryaḍkabhājanam ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīmasena: “Ang yaong Transendenteng Persona, na may sanlibong ulo, na nagnanais matulog sa kabila ng abot ng mga pandama, ay may makapangyarihang Śeṣa—nakapanghihilakbot sa sanlibong talukbong—bilang Kanyang higaan at pahingahan.”

Word by Word

सहस्रशीर्षाhaving a thousand heads

पुरुषःthe Person (Puruṣa)

स्वप्तुकामःdesiring to sleep

तुbut/indeed

अतीन्द्रियःbeyond the senses

फटासहस्रविकटम्huge with a thousand hoods (serpent-hoods)

शेषम्Śeṣa (the serpent)

पर्यङ्कभाजनम्a couch/bed as a receptacle (i.e., serving as a bed)

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

Puruṣa (cosmic Person / Supreme Being)

Śeṣa (Ananta, the serpent)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the transcendence of the Supreme Person (atīndriya—beyond sensory grasp) and conveys divine sovereignty through cosmic imagery: even the vast Śeṣa with a thousand hoods serves as His couch, underscoring reverence and the smallness of worldly power before the divine.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma describes a vision/description of the supreme cosmic Person resting, portraying Śeṣa (Ananta) as the immense serpent-bed. The statement functions as a devotional and awe-filled depiction of divine grandeur within the Vana Parva context.