Shloka 21

Puṣkara-Tīrtha-Māhātmya and the Phala of Pilgrimage

Nārada–Yudhiṣṭhira; Pulastya–Bhīṣma Transmission

Devanagari script

यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वे महात्मन: । मन्यामहे जितानाजोौ परानू्‌ प्राप्तां च मेदिनीम्‌

Transliteration

yasya bāhū samāśritya vayaṁ sarve mahātmanaḥ | manyāmahe jitān ajau parān prāptāṁ ca medinīm ||

Translation

Bhīma nói: “Ôi bậc đại hồn, nương tựa nơi đôi tay hùng mạnh của người ấy, tất cả chúng ta đều tin rằng mình đã thắng kẻ thù trong chiến trận, và thậm chí đã đạt được cả cõi đất này—quyền bá chủ.”

Word by Word

यस्यof whom/whose

बाहूtwo arms

समाश्रित्यhaving taken refuge in/depending on

वयम्we

सर्वेall

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

मन्यामहेwe think/consider

जितान्conquered/defeated

अजौtwo goats (or: two Ajas, if taken as a proper name)

परान्others/enemies

प्राप्ताम्obtained/reached

चand

मेदिनीम्the earth

Speaker

भीम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīma

the great-souled one (addressed person, unnamed in this verse)

enemies (parāḥ)

earth/kingdom (medinī)

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 ethic of reliance on a protector-leader: collective confidence and hope for rightful sovereignty arise from taking refuge in proven strength and steadfast support, while implying responsibility on the one relied upon.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma speaks to a 'great-souled' person, declaring that the group’s assurance of defeating enemies and gaining the kingdom rests upon that person’s powerful arms—i.e., their martial capability and protective leadership.