Shloka 12

Arjuna Honored in Indra’s Court; Lomāśa’s Audience; Indra’s Disclosure of Lineage and Mission

Book 3, Chapter 45

Devanagari script

भक्तानुकम्पी कान्तश्न प्रियश्न स्थिरसंगर: । प्रार्थनीयैर्गुणगणैमहेन्द्रवरुणोपम:

Transliteration

bhaktānukampī kāntaśna priyaśna sthirasaṅgaraḥ | prārthanīyair guṇagaṇair mahendrvaruṇopamaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Er war voll Mitgefühl gegenüber seinen Verehrern und Schutzbefohlenen, maßvoll im Essen und standhaft im Kampf. Durch eine Vielzahl begehrenswerter Tugenden war er würdig, gesucht und geehrt zu werden, Mahendra und Varuṇa an Vortrefflichkeit gleich.

Word by Word

भक्तानुकम्पीcompassionate to devotees

कान्तश्नःeating what is desired/pleasant (food)

प्रियश्नःeating what is dear/liked

स्थिरसंगरःsteadfast in battle

प्रार्थनीयैःby/with desirable (praiseworthy) [qualities]

गुणगणैःwith hosts of virtues

महेन्द्रवरुणोपमःcomparable to Mahendra and Varuṇa

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mahendra (Indra)

Varuṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ideal leader/hero whose greatness rests not only on martial steadiness but also on compassion and self-restraint; ethical excellence (guṇa) makes one truly worthy of honor and reliance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a distinguished figure by listing exemplary traits—kindness to the devoted, moderation, and firmness in battle—elevating him through comparison with Indra and Varuṇa.