Shloka 15

Adhyāya 62: Sañjaya’s Admonition to Dhṛtarāṣṭra on Rāja-dharma and Consequence

Devanagari script

भक्ष्यानज्नपाननिचया: शुशुभुस्त्वन्नपर्वता: । घृतह्दा: सूपकूपा: दधिफेना गुडोदका:

Transliteration

bhakṣyānajñapānanicayāḥ śuśubhus tv annaparvatāḥ | ghṛtahradāḥ sūpakūpāḥ dadhiphenā guḍodakāḥ ||

Translation

قال نارَدَة: «وتألّقت أكوامُ المآكل والمشارب كأنها جبالٌ من الطعام. وكانت هناك بحيراتٌ من السمن المصفّى (الغي)، وآبارٌ من الحساء، وزَبَدُ اللبن الرائب، ومياهٌ مُحلّاةٌ بسكّر القصب المُجمَّد (الجاغري).»

Word by Word

भक्ष्य-अन्न-पान-निचयाःheaps/collections of eatables, food and drinks

शुशुभुःshone, were splendid

तुindeed, and

अन्न-पर्वताःmountains of food

घृत-ह्रदाःlakes of ghee

सूप-कूपाःwells of soup/broth

दधि-फेनाःfoams of curd/yogurt

गुड-उदकाःwaters (sweet drinks) of jaggery

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

mountains of food (annaparvatāḥ)

lakes of ghee (ghṛtahradāḥ)

wells of soup (sūpakūpāḥ)

curd-foam (dadhiphenāḥ)

jaggery-water (guḍodakāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses hyperbolic imagery of limitless provisions—food-mountains and ghee-lakes—to convey a wondrous, otherworldly abundance. In the war-epic context, such descriptions often function as portents or visionary scenes, reminding listeners that appearances can be extraordinary yet transient, and that discernment is needed amid spectacle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a marvelous scene where vast quantities of food and drink seem to manifest: heaps of delicacies, mountains of provisions, lakes of ghee, wells of soup, froth of curds, and sweetened waters. The focus is on vivid sensory detail to portray an uncanny abundance within the unfolding events of Droṇa Parva.