Shloka 4

Hiḍimbā’s Petition, Conditional Union with Bhīma, and the Birth-Naming of Ghaṭotkaca (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४३)

Devanagari script

सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णे पुंसां देशे मनोरमे । इत्येवं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वचनाच्चक्रिरे कथा:,“वह पवित्र नगर समस्त रत्नोंसे भरा-पूरा तथा मनुष्योंके मनको मोह लेनेवाला स्थान धृतराष्ट्रके कहनेसे वह इस प्रकारकी बातें करने लगे

Transliteration

sarvaratnasamākīrṇe puṁsāṁ deśe manora me | ityevaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya vacanāc cakrire kathāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: In jener lieblichen Gegend, übersät mit allerlei Edelsteinen und fesselnd für den Geist der Menschen, begannen sie ihr Gespräch auf diese Weise, angestoßen durch Dhṛtarāṣṭras Worte. Die Szene zeigt, wie das Wort eines Königs den Ton von Rat und Rede bestimmt—zumal inmitten von Wohlstand, der den Sinn vom rechten Urteil und vom Dharma ablenken kann.

Word by Word

सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णेin (a place) filled with all jewels

पुंसाम्of men/people

देशेin the country/place

मनोरमेdelightful/charming

इतिthus/so (quotative)

एवम्in this manner

धृतराष्ट्रस्यof Dhṛtarāṣṭra

वचनात्from (the) word/command

चक्रिरेthey made/did

कथाःtalks/conversations/stories

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

deśa (a delightful jewel-filled region)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of a ruler’s words to initiate and shape deliberation; even in alluring prosperity, wise discussion should be guided by responsible speech aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a beautiful, gem-filled place, the assembled people begin a conversation as directed or prompted by Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Vaiśampāyana narrates this transition into dialogue.