Shloka 9
कुन्त्याः वनगमननिश्चयः — Kuntī’s Resolve to Depart for the Forest
गजैश्वाचलसंकाशैर्भीमकर्मा वृकोदर: । सज्जयमन्त्रायुधोपेतै: प्रययौँ पवनात्मज:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
gajaiś cācalasaṅkāśair bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ |
sajjayantrāyudhopetaiḥ prayayau pavanātmajaḥ ||
毗湿摩波耶那说：风神之子弗利拘陀罗（Vṛkodara，即毗摩 Bhīmasena），以可怖之威行事，率领形如山岳的群象出发。那些巨象皆备置精巧机关与兵刃，整肃而森严。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within a narrative framed by withdrawal to the forest and the waning of royal life, the verse highlights disciplined preparedness and organized strength. It implicitly contrasts worldly power—symbolized by armed, engineered war-elephants—with the larger movement of the epic toward restraint and renunciation, reminding readers that might and equipment are secondary to the ethical direction (dharma) in which one proceeds.
Vaiśampāyana describes Bhīma (Vṛkodara), son of the Wind-god, setting out with a formidable elephant force. The elephants are depicted as mountain-like and outfitted with devices and weapons, emphasizing the scale and readiness of the entourage accompanying him.