Shloka 21

यमसभावर्णनम् (Yamasabhā-varṇanam) — Nārada’s Description of Dharmarāja’s Assembly

Devanagari script

इन्द्रद्युम्नो भीमजानुर्गौरपृष्ठोडनघो लय: । पद्मयो5थ मुचुकुन्दश्न भूरिद्युम्न: प्रसेनजित्‌

Transliteration

indradyumno bhīmajānur gaurapṛṣṭho 'naghō layaḥ | padmayo 'tha mucukundaś ca bhūridyumnaḥ prasenajit ||

Translation

Nārada sprach: „Indradyumna, Bhīmajānu, Gaurapṛṣṭha, der schuldlose Laya, Padmaya, und auch Mucukunda, Bhūridyumna und Prasenajit.“

Word by Word

इन्द्रद्युम्नःIndradyumna (name of a king)

भीमजानुःBhīmajānu (one with terrible knees; proper name/epithet)

गौरपृष्ठःGaurapṛṣṭha (white-backed; proper name/epithet)

अनघःsinless, faultless (as a name/epithet)

लयःLaya (proper name; lit. dissolution/absorption)

पद्मयःPadmaya (proper name; lit. lotus-born/lotus-like)

अथthen, and

मुचुकुन्दःMucukunda (name of a king)

भूरिद्युम्नःBhūridyu(m)na (of great splendor; proper name/epithet)

प्रसेनजित्Prasenajit (name of a king; lit. conqueror of the army)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Indradyumna

Bhīmajānu

Gaurapṛṣṭha

Laya

Padmaya

Mucukunda

Bhūridyumna

Prasenajit

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a remembrance of exemplary rulers: preserving names and lineages is a way the epic upholds dharma by holding up models of blameless conduct and legitimate kingship for later generations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is speaking and simply enumerates a sequence of renowned figures (primarily kings). The passage is part of a broader catalog/genealogical narration rather than a dramatic action scene.