Shloka 4

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

ततः सुशर्मा त्रैगर्त: सह भ्रात्रा यवीयसा । अभ्यद्रवन्मत्स्यराजं रथव्रातेन सर्वश:,तदनन्तर त्रिगर्तराज सुशर्माने अपने छोटे भाईके साथ रथियोंका समूह लेकर चारों ओरसे मत्स्यराज विराटपर धावा बोल दिया

Transliteration

tataḥ suśarmā traigartaḥ saha bhrātrā yavīyasā | abhyadravan matsyarājaṃ rathavrātena sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da stürmte Suśarmā, der König der Trigartas, zusammen mit seinem jüngeren Bruder auf Virāṭa, den König der Matsyas, los und umringte ihn von allen Seiten mit einer großen Schar von Wagenkämpfern.

Word by Word

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

• सुशर्मा: Susharman
• सुशर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुशर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• त्रैगर्तः: the Trigarta (king/leader of the Trigartas)
• त्रैगर्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैगर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (governs instrumental)

• भ्रात्रा: with (his) brother
• भ्रात्रा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, singular

• यवीयसा: younger
• यवीयसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, instrumental, singular (agreeing with भ्रात्रा)

• अभ्यद्रवत्: rushed/charged (upon)
• अभ्यद्रवत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, singular, Parasmaipada (with preverb अभि-)

• मत्स्यराजम्: the king of the Matsyas
• मत्स्यराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्यराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• रथव्रातेन: with a host/group of chariots (chariot-warriors)
• रथव्रातेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथव्रात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, instrumental, singular

• सर्वशः: on all sides; entirely
• सर्वशः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Suśarmā
• Trigarta (people/kingdom)
• Younger brother of Suśarmā
• Matsya kingdom
• Virāṭa (Matsyarāja)
• Chariot-warriors (rathavratā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension between aggressive assault and rightful defense: coordinated military power can threaten a king’s ability to protect his people, thereby testing the dharma of rulers and warriors in responding to unjust attack.

What is happening in the narrative?

Suśarmā, leader of the Trigartas, along with his younger brother, launches a chariot-led attack on Virāṭa of Matsya, surrounding him from all directions—an escalation that drives the ensuing conflict in this chapter.