Shloka 9

Devanagari script

पश्य बाहू सुवृत्तौ मे हस्तिहस्तनिभाविमौ । ऊरू परिघसंकाशौ संहतं चाप्युरो महत्‌,हाथीकी सूँड़-जैसी मोटी और सुन्दर गोलाकार मेरी इन दोनों भुजाओंकी ओर देखो। मेरी ये जाँघें परिघके समान हैं और मेरा विशाल वक्ष:स्थल भी सुदृढ़ एवं सुगठित है

Transliteration

paśya bāhū suvṛttau me hastihastanibhāvimau | ūrū parighasaṅkāśau saṃhataṃ cāpy uro mahat |

Translation

Bhīma nói: “Hãy nhìn đôi cánh tay ta—tròn chắc và mạnh mẽ như vòi voi. Đùi ta như những thanh sắt, và lồng ngực rộng lớn này cũng rắn rỏi, kết chặt và uy mãnh.”

Word by Word

पश्यsee, look (at)

बाहूtwo arms

सुवृत्तौwell-rounded, shapely (two)

मेmy

हस्ति-हस्त-निभौlike an elephant’s trunk/hand (two)

इमौthese two

ऊरूtwo thighs

परिघ-संकाशौresembling iron bars/clubs (two)

संहतम्compact, well-knit

चand

अपिalso, even

उरःchest

महत्great, huge

Speaker

भीम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīma

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 the kṣatriya ethos of courage and self-confidence, but it also implicitly warns that reliance on sheer power can slide into arrogance; true dharma balances strength with discipline and right purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma is speaking in a confrontational or assertive moment, pointing to his own bodily power—arms, thighs, and chest—as proof of his capability and as a challenge meant to deter or overawe others.