Shloka 14

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

द्रोणभीष्मानुमत्या तु धृतराष्ट्रः समानयत् / अर्द्वराज्यं ततः प्राप्ता इन्द्रप्रस्थे पुरोत्तमे

Transliteration

droṇabhīṣmānumatyā tu dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ samānayat / ardvarājyaṃ tataḥ prāptā indraprasthe purottame

Translation

Mit Zustimmung von Droṇa und Bhīṣma führte Dhṛtarāṣṭra sie zu einer Einigung; daraufhin erhielten sie die Hälfte des Reiches in Indraprastha, der vorzüglichsten Stadt.

Word by Word

• द्रोणभीष्मानुमत्या: with the consent of Droṇa and Bhīṣma
• द्रोणभीष्मानुमत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—द्रोणभीष्मयोः अनुमत्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/विरोधार्थक-अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• समानयत्: brought/assembled
• समानयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्द्वराज्यम्: half the kingdom
• अर्द्वराज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्व (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—अर्द्वं राज्यं (कर्मधारयः)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—काल/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

• प्राप्ताः: obtained/received
• प्राप्ताः: Kriya (Result state/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—‘having obtained/received’ (past passive participle used predicatively)

• इन्द्रप्रस्थे: in Indraprastha
• इन्द्रप्रस्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पुरोत्तमे: in the best of cities
• पुरोत्तमे: Adhikarana (Qualifier of location/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—पुराणाम् उत्तमे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषणम् (इन्द्रप्रस्थे)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice; not clearly attributable to Vishnu–Garuda dialogue from the provided verse alone)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma through counsel, consent, and equitable division to prevent adharma and civil strife.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social order) through dharmic action; restraint of ego for collective stability.

Application: In conflict resolution, seek respected mediators, formal consent, and fair power-sharing to reduce harm and preserve institutions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: capital city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145 (Mahabharata-summary narrative context)

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Bhīṣma
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Indraprastha

FAQs

What is the importance of royal settlement (rājya-vibhāga) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dharmic governance through negotiated settlement—authority figures (Droṇa and Bhīṣma) sanction a division, leading to an orderly acquisition of half the kingdom at Indraprastha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; it is a historical-narrative statement about political reconciliation and the division of sovereignty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek fair mediation and consent-based resolution in disputes; stable outcomes arise when respected elders/experts guide reconciliation and agreements are honored.