Shloka 31

Sabhā-praveśa, Dāna, and the Courtly Convergence (सभा-प्रवेशः दानं च)

Devanagari script

भीष्मको<थाकृतिश्रैव द्युमत्सेनश्व वीर्यवान्‌ । केकयाश्न महेष्वासा यज्ञसेनश्षु सौमकि:

Transliteration

bhīṣmako ’thākṛtiś caiva dyumatsenaś ca vīryavān | kekayāś ca mahēṣvāsā yajāsenāś ca saumakiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Dann waren da Bhīṣmaka und auch Ākṛti; der kraftvolle Dyumatsena; die Kekayas, berühmt als große Bogenschützen; und Yajāsena, der Sohn Somakas.“

Word by Word

भीष्मकःBhīṣmaka (proper name)

अथthen/now

कृतिश्रवाःKṛtiśravā (proper name; 'famed for deeds')

एवindeed/also

द्युमत्सेनःDyumatsena (proper name)

चand

वीर्यवान्valorous, possessing prowess

केकयाःthe Kekayas (people/kingdom)

चand

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen (lit. those with great bows)

यज्ञसेनःYajñasena (Drupada; proper name)

चand

सौमकिःSaumaki (proper name; of the Somakas)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣmaka

Ākṛti

Dyumatsena

Kekaya (people/kingdom)

Yajāsena

Somaka (lineage reference)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

This verse functions as part of an epic catalogue: it underscores how reputation (vīrya, archery skill), lineage, and regional power networks matter in kṣatriya society. Ethically, it hints that large-scale conflicts are not isolated acts but draw in many houses through duty, alliance, and prestige.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues enumerating notable rulers/warriors present or relevant in the Sabha Parva context, naming Bhīṣmaka, Ākṛti, Dyumatsena, the Kekayas renowned as great bowmen, and Yajāsena of the Somaka line.