Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा सटास्तस्य पड्च चक्रे वृकोदर: । अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन किंचिदब्रुवतस्तदा,ऐसा कहकर भीमने जयद्रथके लम्बे-लम्बे बालोंको अर्द्धचन्द्राकार बाणसे मूँड़कर पाँच चोटियाँ रख दीं। उस समय वह भयके मारे कुछ भी बोल नहीं पाता था

Transliteration

evam uktvā śaṭāstasya pañca cakre vṛkodaraḥ | ardhacandreṇa bāṇena kiñcid abruvatas tadā ||

Translation

Pagkasabi nito, ginupit ni Vṛkodara (Bhīma) ang mahabang buhok ni Jayadratha gamit ang palasong hugis gasuklay na buwan, at iniwan siyang may limang tumpok ng buhok. Noon, si Jayadratha ay nilamon ng takot at hindi makapagsalita—ang kahihiyang ito’y sadyang iniukit bilang lantad na tatak ng paghamak, sa halip na agarang pagpatay.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्त्वाhaving said

सटान्locks of hair / long hair

तस्यof him

पञ्चfive

चक्रेmade / did

वृकोदरःVṛkodara (Bhīma)

अर्धचन्द्रेणwith a half-moon (shaped)

बाणेनwith an arrow

किञ्चित्anything / something

अब्रुवतःof (him) who was speaking / trying to speak

तदाthen

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena (Vṛkodara)

Jayadratha

crescent-shaped arrow (ardhacandra-bāṇa)

hair/locks (śaṭāḥ)

five tufts/topknots (pañca śikhāḥ implied)

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 a form of measured retribution: instead of killing an offender immediately, Bhīma imposes a visible, socially meaningful disgrace. It reflects the epic’s concern with proportional punishment, public accountability, and the ethical weight of consequences in a warrior culture.

What is happening in the narrative?

After declaring his intent, Bhīma uses a crescent-shaped arrow to shave off Jayadratha’s long hair and leaves him with five tufts. Jayadratha is so terrified and shamed that he cannot speak.