Mahabharata 4.20.2 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 20, Shloka 2

Bhīma–Draupadī Saṃvāda on Restraint, Protection, and the Kīcaka Threat

Virāṭa-parva, Adhyāya 20

Devanagari script

विक्रियां पश्य मे तीव्रां राजपुत्रया: परंतप । आत्मकालमुदीक्षन्ती सर्व दुःखं किलान्तवत्‌

Transliteration

vaśampāyana uvāca |

vikriyāṃ paśya me tīvrāṃ rājaputryāḥ parantapa |

ātmakālam udīkṣantī sarva-duḥkhaṃ kilāntavat ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“噬敌如火者啊，且看这严酷的逆转如何临到我身，纵然我本为公主。然则人当守望自身福祉之良机；因为忧苦既至，亦必有其终。”

Word by Word

• विक्रियां: change/condition (state of affairs)
• विक्रियां: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पश्य: see!
• पश्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (दृश्)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• तीव्राम्: severe, intense
• तीव्राम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• राजपुत्र्याः: of the king’s daughter (princess)
• राजपुत्र्याः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्री
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes (address)
• परंतप: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• आत्मकालम्: one’s own time/occasion
• आत्मकालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मकाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उदीक्षन्ती: looking for / awaiting
• उदीक्षन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√ईक्ष्
• Form: Present active participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दुःखम्: sorrow, suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• किल: indeed, as is said
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• अन्तवत्: having an end; finite
• अन्तवत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तवत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even those of high status may face severe reversals; one should endure hardship while patiently watching for the proper time to act, remembering that suffering is not permanent and will come to an end.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Virāṭa episode, the speaker reflects on the painful, humiliating change of circumstances endured despite being of royal birth, and frames it as a strategic patience—waiting for the right opportunity, since misfortune is temporary.