Shloka 20

पाण्डव-वृष्णि-समागमः तथा अश्वमेध-अनुज्ञा | Reunion at the Kuru Court and Authorization of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तत्र तत्र विविक्तेषु समन्‍्तादुपशोभितम्‌ | पताका धूयमानाश्च समन्तान्मातरिश्वना

Transliteration

tatra tatra vivikteṣu samantādupśobhitam | patākā dhūyamānāśca samantānmātariśvanā

Translation

Hier und dort, an offenen und weiten Plätzen, war das Bild ringsum verschönert; und Banner, vom Wind bewegt und zum Flattern gebracht, wehten überall—Zeichen des Festes, der königlichen Ordnung und der öffentlichen Feierlichkeit des Ritus, der vorbereitet wurde.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• तत्र: there (in various places)
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• विविक्तेषु: in secluded/isolated (places)
• विविक्तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• समन्तात्: on all sides, all around
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात्

• उपशोभितम्: adorned, beautified
• उपशोभितम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शोभ्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• पताकाः: flags, banners
• पताकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• धूयमानाः: being shaken/waved
• धूयमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धू
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

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

• समन्तात्: all around
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात्

• मातरिश्वना: by the wind (Mātariśvan)
• मातरिश्वना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातरिश्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• पताका (banners/flags)
• मातरिश्वन् (Mātariśvan, the Wind)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a dharmic royal undertaking is marked by visible order, beauty, and auspicious signs. The ethical suggestion is that public rites and governance should manifest harmony and propriety—outer decorum reflecting inner commitment to duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the surroundings as adorned in many places, with flags and banners fluttering in the wind. The imagery sets a ceremonial atmosphere consistent with preparations and public display connected to the Aśvamedha context of the parva.