Shloka 41

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

पुनरन्तःपुरगतः स्त्रीणां मध्ये वृकोदर: । योध्यते स विराटेन सिंहैर्मत्तैमहाबलै:,कभी-कभी विराटकी प्रेरणासे स्त्रियोंके अन्तःपुरमें जाकर भीमसेन उन्हें दिखानेके लिये महान्‌ बलवान्‌ और मतवाले सिंहोंके साथ लड़ा करते थे

Transliteration

punar antaḥpuragataḥ strīṇāṁ madhye vṛkodaraḥ | yodhyate sa virāṭena siṁhair mattaiḥ mahābalaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Lại nữa, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) bước vào nội cung của nữ giới, đứng giữa các cung nữ; theo lời thúc giục của vua Virāṭa, chàng giao chiến với những con sư tử lực lưỡng, đang cuồng nộ, để phô bày bản lĩnh cho họ kinh ngạc.

Word by Word

पुनःagain

अन्तःपुरगतःhaving gone into the inner apartments (harem)

स्त्रीणाम्of women

मध्येin the midst

वृकोदरःVṛkodara (Bhīma)

योध्यतेfights / is made to fight

सःhe

विराटेनby Virāṭa

सिंहैःwith lions

मत्तैःintoxicated, frenzied

महाबलैःvery strong

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vṛkodara (Bhīma)

Virāṭa (King of Matsya)

antaḥpura (women’s quarters)

lions (siṁha)

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?

Even immense power should be governed by dharma and discretion. Bhīma’s strength is not used for ego or harm but is carefully displayed in a controlled setting, supporting the higher duty of maintaining secrecy during the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ year of concealment in King Virāṭa’s court, Bhīma (as Vṛkodara) is brought into the palace women’s quarters and, at Virāṭa’s prompting, fights mighty, frenzied lions as a demonstration of valor and entertainment.