Shloka 17

पाण्डवसेनानायकाभिषेकः तथा बलरामागमन-उपदेशः | Appointment of Pandava Commanders and Balarama’s Counsel

Devanagari script

द्वावड्कुशधरीौ तत्र द्वावुत्तमधनुर्धरी । दौ वरासिधरौ राजन्नेक: शक्तिपिनाकधृक्‌

Transliteration

dvāv aṅkuśadharī tau tatra dvāv uttamadhanurdharī | dvau varāsidharau rājan ekaḥ śaktipinākadhṛk ||

Translation

قال فايشَمبايانا: «هناك، أيها الملك، رجلان يحملان مِخْطاف الفيل ويقومان بعمل السائسَين؛ ورجلان من أمهر الرماة؛ ورجلان يحملان سيوفًا حسنة؛ ورجل واحد يحمل śakti (رمحًا) ومعه Pināka، سلاح شيفا المقدّس، قائمًا بين الخدم مستعدًّا.»

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अङ्कुशधरौ: two goad-bearers (mahouts)
• अङ्कुशधरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुशधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• उत्तमधनुर्धरौ: two excellent bowmen
• उत्तमधनुर्धरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमधनुर्धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• वरासिधरौ: two bearers of excellent swords
• वरासिधरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरासिधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्तिपिनाकधृक्: one who bears a spear and Pināka (Śiva's bow)
• शक्तिपिनाकधृक्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्तिपिनाकधृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• King (rājan)
• aṅkuśa (elephant-goad)
• bow (dhanus)
• sword (asi)
• śakti (spear)
• Pināka (Śiva’s weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined preparedness and role-based duty: each attendant is equipped according to a specific function (mahout, archer, swordsman, spear-bearer), reflecting orderly protection and the ethical ideal of fulfilling one’s assigned responsibility in a royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the armed personnel present—enumerating how many carried elephant-goads, bows, swords, and a spear with Pināka—conveying the guarded, martial atmosphere surrounding the royal party.