Shloka 7

अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधन: श्रुत्वा महात्मानं महारथम्‌ । उपायान्तमभिद्रुत्य स्वयमानर्च भारत,भरतनन्दन! उन्हीं दिनों दुर्योधनने महारथी एवं महामना राजा शल्यका आगमन सुनकर स्वयं आगे बढ़कर (मार्गमें ही) उनका सेवा-सत्कार प्रारम्भ कर दिया

Transliteration

tato duryodhanaḥ śrutvā mahātmānaṃ mahāratham | upayāntam abhidrutya svayam ānarca bhārata ||

Translation

Da hörte Duryodhana, dass König Śalya — hochgesinnt und ein großer Wagenkämpfer — herannahe, und er eilte ihm entgegen und begann unterwegs persönlich, ihn zu ehren und zu bedienen. Ethisch gesehen zeigt die Szene strategische Gastfreundschaft: äußere Verehrung und Dienst, dargebracht mit dem Ziel, für den kommenden Krieg einen mächtigen Verbündeten zu gewinnen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable; 'having heard'

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled (one)
• महात्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथम्: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपायान्तम्: approaching, coming near
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिद्रुत्य: having rushed up (towards him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्), indeclinable; 'having run up/approached quickly'

• स्वयम्: himself, personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: Avyaya

• आनर्च: honoured, worshipped, paid respect
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भरतनन्दन: O joy of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duryodhana
• Śalya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how acts that resemble dharmic hospitality and reverence can be employed as political instruments. It invites reflection on intention (bhāva) behind conduct: service and honor may be ethically elevated when sincere, but morally ambiguous when primarily aimed at gaining advantage in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Hearing that the powerful warrior-king Śalya is approaching, Duryodhana rushes out to meet him and begins honoring him personally on the road, initiating a reception meant to win Śalya’s favor and secure his support for the Kauravas.