Shloka 16

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow

Devanagari script

स्वयंवरं तु राजन्या: प्रशंसन्त्युपयान्ति च | प्रमथ्य तु हृतामाहुज्यायसीं धर्मवादिन:,"क्षत्रिय स्वयंवरकी प्रशंसा करते और उसमें जाते हैं; परंतु उसमें भी समस्त राजाओंको परास्त करके जिस कन्याका अपहरण किया जाता है, धर्मवादी दिद्वान क्षत्रियके लिये उसे सबसे श्रेष्ठ मानते हैं

Transliteration

svayaṃvaraṃ tu rājanyāḥ praśaṃsanty upayānti ca | pramathya tu hṛtām āhur jyāyasīṃ dharmavādinaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Die Kṣatriyas preisen den Ritus der Svayaṃvara und gehen dorthin. Doch die Ausleger der Dharma erklären, dass für einen Krieger der höhere Weg sei, die Jungfrau zu ergreifen, nachdem er alle rivalisierenden Könige niedergerungen hat.“

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: by oneself; personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• वरम्: choice; selection (of a husband)
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but; however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राजन्याः: of the princess
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्या
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रशंसन्ति: they praise
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• उपयान्ति: they go/approach
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• प्रमथ्य: having crushed/overpowered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-मथ्
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā/lyap), Active

• तु: but; however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• हृताम्: carried off; abducted
• हृताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (√हृ) → हृत
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• आहुः: they say; they declare
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (√अह्/ब्रू)
• Form: Perfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ज्यायसीम्: better; superior
• ज्यायसीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्यायस्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular, Comparative

• धर्मवादिनः: speakers of dharma; moralists
• धर्मवादिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मवादिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• kṣatriyas (rājanyas)
• svayaṃvara
• kanyā (the maiden/bride)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts two kṣatriya-accepted marriage modes: attending a svayaṃvara versus winning the bride by overpowering rival kings. It frames the latter as ‘higher’ from a kṣatriya-dharma perspective, emphasizing valor and dominance as ethical ideals within that warrior code.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana comments on prevailing royal customs: warriors publicly honor svayaṃvaras and participate in them, yet dharma-discoursers also recognize a competing norm—carrying off the maiden after defeating all contenders—as an especially esteemed practice for kṣatriyas.