Shloka 12

गूढपाण्डवदर्शनम् — The Hidden Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇa’s Visit

Devanagari script

राजानो राजपुत्राश्न॒ यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणा: | स्वाध्यायवन्त: शुचयो महात्मानो यतव्रता:,(वहाँ) कितने ही प्रचुर दक्षिणा देनेवाले, यज्ञ करनेवाले, स्वाध्यायशील, पवित्र, नियमपूर्वक व्रतका पालन करनेवाले, महात्मा एवं तरुण अवस्थावाले दर्शनीय राजा और राजकुमार अनेक देशोंसे पधारेंगे। अस्त्रविद्यामें निपुण महारथी भूमिपाल भी वहाँ आयेंगे

Transliteration

rājāno rājaputrāś ca yajvāno bhūridakṣiṇāḥ | svādhyāyavantaḥ śucayo mahātmāno yatavratāḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Dorthin werden Könige und Königsöhne kommen — Männer, die Opfer vollziehen und reichlich Gaben spenden, dem Svādhyāya ergeben, rein im Wandel, großherzig und standhaft in streng geübten Gelübden.“

Word by Word

राजानःkings

राजपुत्राःprinces (sons of kings)

यज्वानःsacrificers, performers of yajñas

भूरिदक्षिणाःhaving abundant sacrificial gifts (fees)

स्वाध्यायवन्तःpossessed of self-study (Vedic recitation)

शुचयःpure, clean

महात्मानःgreat-souled ones

यतव्रताःof restrained/observed vows, disciplined in vows

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

kings (rājānaḥ)

princes (rājaputrāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ideal of dharmic rulership: true prestige for kings and princes is linked to sacrifice (public religious duty), generosity (abundant dakṣiṇā), learning (svādhyāya), purity, and disciplined self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira anticipates or describes a major assembly where many rulers will arrive. He characterizes the expected attendees as exemplary, emphasizing their ritual merit, generosity, and moral discipline—setting a solemn, dharma-centered tone for the gathering.