Shloka 7

Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

स्वभावगुप्तं॑ नगरमापत्काले तु भारत | गोपयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वत: समलंकृतम्‌

Transliteration

svabhāvaguptaṁ nagaram āpatkāle tu bhārata | gopayāmāsa rājendra sarvataḥ samalaṅkṛtam ||

Translation

হে ভারত, রাজেন্দ্র! নগরটি স্বভাবতই সুরক্ষিত ছিল, তবু বিপদের কালে রাজা চারিদিক থেকে তাকে সুশোভিত ও সুদৃঢ় করে বিশেষভাবে রক্ষার ব্যবস্থা করলেন।

Word by Word

• स्वभावगुप्तम्: protected by its own nature
• स्वभावगुप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभावगुप्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आपत्काले: in time of calamity
• आपत्काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपत्काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• गोपयामास: protected/guarded
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वतः: on all sides; in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• समलंकृतम्: well-adorned; fully furnished
• समलंकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-लङ्कृ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Kuru addressee, typically Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• rājendra (the king, as addressed)
• nagara (the city)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even if a kingdom seems naturally secure, a ruler must exercise vigilance in times of danger—strengthening defenses and arrangements rather than relying on complacent confidence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes how, during a crisis, the king ensured the city’s safety by making special protective arrangements and preparing it thoroughly on all sides, despite its inherent security.