Shloka 5

Jarāsandha–Vāsudeva Saṃvāda: Kṣātra-Dharma, Pride, and the Ethics of Coercion

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 20

Devanagari script

अवमानाच्च लोभाच्च बाहुवीर्याच्च दर्पित: । भीमसेनेन युद्धाय ध्रुवमप्युपयास्थति

Transliteration

avamānāc ca lobhāc ca bāhuvīryāc ca darpitaḥ | bhīmasenena yuddhāya dhruvam apy upayāsthati ||

Translation

风神婆由说道：“因受辱而激愤，因贪欲而被诱，且因自恃臂力而骄醉，阇罗三陀必定会挺身而出，与毗摩塞那单挑决斗。”

Word by Word

• अवमानात्: from insult / due to insult
• अवमानात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवमान
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• लोभात्: from greed / due to desire
• लोभात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• बाहुवीर्यात्: from strength of arms
• बाहुवीर्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहुवीर्य
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दर्पितः: proud, puffed up
• दर्पितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्पित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमसेनेन: with Bhimasena
• भीमसेनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• युद्धाय: for battle
• युद्धाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• ध्रुवम्: surely, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव

• अपि: indeed, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपयास्थति: will approach / will present himself
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Future (Simple Future/luṭ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyu)
• भीमसेन (Bhīmasena/Bhīma)
• जरासन्ध (Jarāsandha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how insult, greed, and pride can compel even a powerful ruler toward rash confrontation. Ethically, it warns that ego-driven motives distort judgment and can be exploited strategically in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu (Bhīma’s divine father) predicts Jarāsandha’s response: when challenged, Jarāsandha—driven by wounded honor, desire for a glorious contest, and confidence in his strength—will certainly agree to fight Bhīmasena.