Shloka 6

Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort

Devanagari script

शिशुपालो जरासंधो भीष्मको वक्र एव च | कपोतरोमा नीलश्न रुक्मी च दृढविक्रम:

Transliteration

śiśupālo jarāsandho bhīṣmako vakra eva ca | kapotaromā nīlaś ca rukmī ca dṛḍhavikramaḥ ||

Translation

قال نارادا: «شيشوبالا (Śiśupāla)، وجاراسنده (Jarāsandha)، وبهِيشمَكَ (Bhīṣmaka)، وفَكْرَة (Vakra)؛ وكابوتارومَا (Kapotaromā)، ونِيلا (Nīla)، وكذلك رُكمي (Rukmī) ثابتُ البأس—هؤلاء من جملة الملوك الأقوياء الذين تُسرد أسماؤهم».

Word by Word

• शिशुपालः: Shishupala
• शिशुपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जरासन्धः: Jarasandha
• जरासन्धः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मकः: Bhishmaka
• भीष्मकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वक्रः: Vakra (a king/person named Vakra)
• वक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• कपोतरोमा: Kapotaroman (one whose hair is like a pigeon’s)
• कपोतरोमा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोतरोमन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नीलः: Nila (a person named Nila)
• नीलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुक्मी: Rukmi
• रुक्मी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दृढविक्रमः: firm/steadfast in valor; of strong prowess
• दृढविक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Śiśupāla
• Jarāsandha
• Bhīṣmaka
• Vakra
• Kapotaromā
• Nīla
• Rukmī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By enumerating renowned and formidable kings, the passage underscores that worldly power is abundant and contested; therefore one must rely on dharma—ethical judgment and right policy—rather than mere strength when assessing allies, enemies, and rightful action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is listing prominent rulers/warriors—Śiśupāla, Jarāsandha, Bhīṣmaka, Vakra, Kapotaromā, Nīla, and the steadfastly valiant Rukmī—within a broader discussion where such names serve to situate the political-moral landscape.