Shloka 5
Damayantī’s Proposal of a Witnessed Choice; Nala Reports to the Lokapālas
Adhyāya 53
तथैवासीद्ू विदर्भेषु भीमो भीमपराक्रम: । शूर: सर्वगुणैर्युक्त: प्रजाकाम: स चाप्रज:
tathaivāsīd vidarbheṣu bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | śūraḥ sarvaguṇair yuktaḥ prajākāmaḥ sa cāprajaḥ ||
“Gayon din sa Vidarbha: may isang lalaking nagngangalang Bhīma, na kakila-kilabot ang lakas—matapang at taglay ang lahat ng mabubuting katangian. Nagnanais siya ng supling, ngunit nanatiling walang anak.”
बृहृदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a virtuous and heroic ruler may face the painful lack of progeny; the verse highlights the human vulnerability of kings and the ethical weight placed on lineage and responsibility toward the future.
Bṛhadaśva introduces the situation in Vidarbha by describing a valiant, virtuous man named Bhīma who desires children but remains childless, setting the background for the ensuing story.