Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णस्य भवने रम्ये रत्नभोज्यसमावृते । उवास सह कृष्णेन बहुलास्तत्र शर्वरी:

Transliteration

kṛṣṇasya bhavane ramye ratnabhojyasamāvṛte | uvāsa saha kṛṣṇena bahulāstatra śarvarīḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: In Kṛṣṇas lieblicher Wohnstatt, reich ausgestattet mit kostbaren Schätzen und üppigen Vorräten, verweilte er an Kṛṣṇas Seite; und viele Nächte wurden dort verbracht. Der Vers hebt die Ethik der Gastfreundschaft und der Gefährtenschaft hervor—wie rechtschaffene Freundschaft durch respektvolles Zusammenwohnen, geteilte Zeit und großzügige Fürsorge Bestand hat.

Word by Word

कृष्णस्यof Krishna

भवनेin the house/palace

रम्येpleasant, beautiful

रत्नjewel(s)

भोज्यfood, eatables

समावृतेsurrounded/covered (with)

उवासdwelt, stayed

सहtogether with

कृष्णेनwith Krishna

बहुलाabundant, long (night)

अत्रhere, there (in that place)

शर्वरीःnights

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kṛṣṇa

bhavana (Kṛṣṇa’s residence)

ratna (treasures/jewels)

bhojya (provisions/food)

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 dharmic hospitality and the sustaining power of companionship: a righteous household provides safety, abundance, and respectful welcome, and friendship is strengthened by shared time and mutual regard.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the person being spoken of stayed in Kṛṣṇa’s pleasant, well-appointed home, spending many nights there in Kṛṣṇa’s company—signaling a period of residence, alliance, and intimate association.