Shloka 8
Hiḍimbā’s Petition, Conditional Union with Bhīma, and the Birth-Naming of Ghaṭotkaca (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४३)
ते ताता यदि मन्यध्वमुत्सवं वारणावते । सगणा: सान्वयाश्रैव विहरध्वं यथामरा:,'पुत्रो! यदि तुमलोग वारणावत नगरमें उत्सव देखने जाना चाहो तो अपने कुटुम्बियों और सेवकवर्गके साथ वहाँ जाकर देवताओंकी भाँति विहार करो
te tātā yadi manyadhvam utsavaṁ vāraṇāvate | sagaṇāḥ sānvayāś caiva viharadhvaṁ yathāmarāḥ ||
毗舍波耶那说：“亲爱的孩子们，若你们愿往婆罗那伐多观赏庆典，便携随从与本族亲眷同去，在彼处如诸天般游乐。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension central to the Mahābhārata: pleasant, familial language can be used to mask harmful designs. It invites reflection on discernment (viveka) in social and political life—judging actions by context and intent, not merely by courteous words.
Vaiśampāyana reports an invitation addressed to the princes to go to Vāraṇāvata for a festival, accompanied by their relatives and attendants, to enjoy themselves. Within the larger episode, this serves as a pretext to send them away from the capital under the appearance of goodwill.