Shloka 27

Adhyaya 7 — Harishchandra Tested by Vishvamitra: The Gift of the Kingdom and the Pandava Curse-Backstory

Sanskrit

विश्वामित्र उवाच ससागरां धरामेतां सभूभृद्ग्रामपत्तनाम् । राज्यं च सकलं वीर रथाश्वगजसङ्कुलम् ॥

Transliteration

viśvāmitra uvāca sasāgarāṃ dharām etāṃ sabhūbhṛdgrāma-pattanām / rājyaṃ ca sakalaṃ vīra rathāśva-gaja-saṅkulam

Translation

قال فيشواميترا: «يا أيها البطل، هَبْ لي هذه الأرض كلها مع بحارها، ومع جبالها وقراها ومدنها، وكل المملكة المملوءة بالعربات والخيول والفيلة».

Word by Word

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• sa-sāgarām: together with the ocean
• sa-sāgarām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सह-समासार्थः ‘सहित’ (with)

• dharām: the earth
• dharām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• etām: this
• etām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun) विशेषण-प्रयोग

• sa-bhūbhṛt-grāma-pattanām: with mountains, villages, and towns
• sa-bhūbhṛt-grāma-pattanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + bhūbhṛt + grāma + pattana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (determinative) ‘सहित’ अर्थे—भूभृत् (mountains) + ग्राम (villages) + पत्तन (towns/cities) सहिताम्

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sakalam: entire
• sakalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• ratha-aśva-gaja-saṅkulam: crowded with chariots, horses, and elephants
• ratha-aśva-gaja-saṅkulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha + aśva + gaja + saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘रथैः अश्वैः गजैः’ इति साधन/सम्बन्ध-निर्देशः, ‘saṅkula’ = filled/crowded

Speakers

• Viśvāmitra (speaking; addressee is a ‘vīra’—a king/hero in the narrative)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Royal duty (rājadharma)
• Gifts and renunciation (dāna/tyāga)
• Power and sovereignty

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames sovereignty as something that can be relinquished or transferred under dharmic pressure—highlighting the tension between worldly kingship (possession of land, cities, armies) and higher obligations (truth, vows, honoring sages). It underscores that true ‘heroism’ can include the capacity to give up even what seems non-negotiable: territory, wealth, and military power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This passage aligns most closely with Vaṃśānucarita (accounts of dynasties/royal conduct) and Dharma-oriented narrative instruction rather than Sarga/Pratisarga. It uses an exemplary episode (itihāsa-like) to illustrate norms of kingship and gifting.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, ‘earth with oceans, mountains, villages, towns, and the fourfold military resources’ represents the totality of embodied power and worldly identity. The sage’s demand functions as a spiritual test: whether the ruler’s ego-identification with dominion can be surrendered in favor of a higher law (ṛta/dharma).