Shloka 4

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

पुष्पवेष्टितशाखाग्रैर्गन्धवद्धिर्मनोहरै: । निगूढा इव लोध्राणां वनै: कामिजनप्रियै:,वहाँ लोध नामक वृक्षोंके कई मनोहर वन हैं, जिनसे वे पाँचों पर्वत ढके हुए-से जान पड़ते हैं। उनकी शाखाओंके अग्रभागमें फ़ूल-ही-फूल दिखायी देते हैं। लोधोंके ये सुगन्धित वन कामीजनोंको बहुत प्रिय हैं

Transliteration

puṣpaveṣṭitaśākhāgrair gandhavaddhir manoharaiḥ | nigūḍhā iva lodhrāṇāṁ vanaiḥ kāmijanapriyaiḥ ||

Translation

风神伐由说道：“那些群山仿佛被芬芳可爱的罗陀罗（lodhra）林所遮蔽。枝梢尽缠花冠，满目繁英；这香气馥郁的森林，尤为贪恋逸乐之人所钟爱。”

Word by Word

पुष्पवेष्टितशाखाग्रैःby/with branch-tips wrapped/covered with flowers

गन्धवत्भिःfragrant

मनोहरैःcharming, delightful

निगूढाःhidden, concealed

इवas if, like

लोध्राणाम्of lodhra-trees

वनैःby/with forests, groves

कामिजनप्रियैःdear to pleasure-seekers (amorous people)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Wind-god)

lodhra trees

forests/groves

mountains

flowers

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts natural beauty and fragrance with human desire: such alluring places become especially attractive to those oriented toward pleasure (kāma), hinting that the mind’s inclinations shape what it seeks and values.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is describing a landscape of mountains seemingly covered by fragrant lodhra forests, whose branch-tips are laden with blossoms, emphasizing the enchanting, sensory richness of the region.