Shloka 20

Khāṇḍava-dāha: Strategic containment and Indra’s rain (Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 217)

Devanagari script

कुमारै: सर्वशो वीर: सत्कारेणाभिचोदित: । समानवयस: सर्वानिश्लिष्य स पुन: पुन:,यदुकुलके समस्त कुमारोंने भी वीरवर अर्जुनका बड़ा सत्कार किया। अर्जुन अपने समान अवस्थावाले सब लोगोंसे उन्हें बारंबार हृदयसे लगाकर मिले

Transliteration

kumaraiḥ sarvaśo vīraḥ satkāreṇābhicoditaḥ | samānavayasaḥ sarvān āśliṣya sa punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Von allen Seiten durch die ehrerbietigen Aufmerksamkeiten der jungen Fürsten dazu gedrängt, umarmte der heldenhafte Arjuna immer wieder alle, die in seinem Alter waren. Die Szene betont einen Kodex edlen Verhaltens: Ehre wird mit Demut erwidert, und Verwandtschaft wird durch herzliche, gleichrangige Zuneigung bekräftigt, nicht durch Stolz.

Word by Word

कुमारैःby the princes/young men

सर्वशःin every way; altogether

वीरःthe hero (Arjuna)

सत्कारेणwith honor/reception

अभिचोदितःurged/impelled

समानवयसम्of the same age

सर्वान्all (of them)

आनिश्लिष्यhaving embraced closely

सःhe

पुनःagain

पुनःagain (repeatedly)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

kumāra (young princes/peers)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Noble conduct (dharma) in society is shown through reciprocal respect: when honored, one responds with humility and warmth, affirming equality among peers and strengthening bonds through courteous affection.

What is happening in the narrative?

The young princes receive Arjuna with great honor; in response, Arjuna repeatedly embraces all those of his own age, acknowledging their goodwill and reinforcing friendly relations.