Shloka 55

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

स निःसज्रो जलस्यान्तमथ वै पाण्डवोडविशत्‌ । आक्रामन्नागभवने तदा नागकुमारकान्‌

Transliteration

sa niḥsajro jalasyāntam atha vai pāṇḍavo 'daviśat | ākrāmann āgabhavane tadā nāgakumārakān |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Chìm xuống tận đáy nước, vị Pāṇḍava (Bhīmasena) bước vào cõi Nāga. Khi chàng cựa mình trong nơi cư ngụ của loài rắn, nhiều Nāga trẻ bị thân thể chàng đè nát. Rồi vô số đại xà cực độc cùng nhau lao tới, dùng những nanh lớn mang nọc ghê gớm mà cắn xé Bhīmasena dữ dội.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Bhimasena)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निःससर्ज: let go / released / cast off
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जलस्य: of the water
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तम्: end / limit / bottom
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पाण्डवः: the Pandava (Bhima)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अविशत्: entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आक्रामन्: treading upon / trampling
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम्
• Form: Present active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नागभवने: in the serpents' dwelling
• नागभवने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागभवन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• नागकुमारकान्: young serpent-princes
• नागकुमारकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागकुमारक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• पाण्डव (Pāṇḍava—Bhīmasena implied by context)
• भीमसेन (Bhīmasena, contextual)
• नाग (Nāgas)
• नागकुमार (Nāga youths/princes)
• नागभवन/नागलोक (Nāga abode/realm)
• जल (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even great physical power can be neutralized by hidden dangers and collective forces; the episode cautions against heedlessness and highlights how quickly circumstances can humble the strong, prompting the need for vigilance and self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma sinks to the bottom of the water and enters the Nāga realm; as he moves, he crushes some Nāga youths, after which many venomous Nāgas attack and bite him severely with their fangs.