Shloka 1

भीमस्य बल्लव-प्रतिज्ञा तथा अर्जुनस्य बृहन्नडा-रूप-निर्णयः

Bhīma’s Ballava Vow and Arjuna’s Decision to Become Bṛhannadā

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत विराटपर्वके अन्तर्गत पाण्डवप्रवेशपर्वमें गुधिछ्ठिर आदिकी परस्पर मन्त्रणासे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाला पहला अध्याय पूरा हुआ,भीमसेनने कहा--भरतवंशशिरोमणे! मैं पौरोगवः. (पाकशालाका अध्यक्ष) बनकर और बलल्‍लवः नामसे अपना परिचय देकर राजा विराटके दरबारमें उपस्थित होऊँगा। मेरा यही विचार है

Transliteration

iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārate virāṭaparvaṇi antar-gate pāṇḍava-praveśa-parvaṇi yudhiṣṭhirādikī paraspara-mantraṇā-sambandha-rakhanevālā prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ | bhīmasena uvāca—bharatavaṁśa-śiromaṇe! ahaṁ paurōgavaḥ (pākaśālāyā adhyakṣaḥ) bhūtvā, ballavaḥ nāmnā ātmānaṁ paricārayitvā rājñaḥ virāṭasya darbare upasthāsyāmi | mama eṣa eva vicāraḥ |

Translation

Như vậy, chương thứ nhất của phần “Pāṇḍava nhập cảnh” thuộc Virāṭa Parva trong Śrī Mahābhārata—nói về cuộc bàn nghị lẫn nhau giữa Yudhiṣṭhira và các vị khác—đã kết thúc. Bấy giờ Bhīmasena nói: “Ôi viên ngọc trên đỉnh vương miện của dòng Bharata! Ta sẽ vào triều đình của vua Virāṭa với tư cách người quản lĩnh nhà bếp hoàng gia, và tự xưng tên là Ballava. Đó là chủ ý đã định của ta.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'virāṭa-parva', 'definition': 'the Virāṭa Parva (Book of Virāṭa), narrating the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito year'}, {'term': 'pāṇḍava-praveśa-parva', 'definition': 'the sub-section describing the Pāṇḍavas’ entry into Virāṭa’s kingdom and their assumed roles'}, {'term': 'paraspara-mantraṇā', 'definition': 'mutual consultation

• deliberation among companions'}, {'term': 'bhīmasena', 'definition': 'Bhīma, the second Pāṇḍava, renowned for strength'}, {'term': 'bharatavaṁśa-śiromaṇi', 'definition': '‘crest-jewel of the Bharata dynasty’

• an honorific address (here to Yudhiṣṭhira)'}, {'term': 'paurōgavaḥ', 'definition': 'chief of the kitchen / royal cook-superintendent (as an assumed post)'}, {'term': 'pākaśālā', 'definition': 'kitchen

• cooking-house'}, {'term': 'adhyakṣa', 'definition': 'superintendent

• overseer'}, {'term': 'ballavaḥ', 'definition': 'Ballava, Bhīma’s assumed name during incognito life'}, {'term': 'darbara', 'definition': 'court

• royal assembly (Hindi usage reflected in the passage)'}, {'term': 'upasthāsyāmi', 'definition': 'I shall appear / present myself'}, {'term': 'vicāraḥ', 'definition': 'plan

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahābhārata
• Virāṭa Parva
• Pāṇḍava-praveśa-parva
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• King Virāṭa
• Ballava (assumed name)
• Pākaśālā (royal kitchen)
• Virāṭa’s court (darbar)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the mighty must practice restraint and intelligent adaptation to protect a righteous aim. Bhīma’s choice of humble service in the royal kitchen highlights dharma-guided prudence: strength is best used under discipline, in support of the group’s larger ethical commitment to complete the incognito vow without provoking conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the Pāṇḍavas consult about how to live undiscovered, Bhīma declares his intended disguise and occupation. He will go to King Virāṭa’s court, introduce himself as ‘Ballava,’ and take the post of kitchen superintendent, enabling the brothers to remain hidden during their required year of anonymity.