Shloka 22

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

तते याताः स्वकं राष्ट्रं प्रार्थयामासुरादृताः / पञ्चग्रामानर्धराज्याद्वीरा दुर्योधनं नृपम्

Transliteration

tate yātāḥ svakaṃ rāṣṭraṃ prārthayāmāsurādṛtāḥ / pañcagrāmānardharājyādvīrā duryodhanaṃ nṛpam

Translation

Then, returning to their own kingdom, those valiant men respectfully petitioned King Duryodhana for five villages—or, failing that, for half the realm.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘thereafter’

• याताः: having gone
• याताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) ‘यात’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having gone/returned’

• स्वकम्: their own
• स्वकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राष्ट्रम्)

• राष्ट्रम्: kingdom
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रार्थयामासुः: they requested
• प्रार्थयामासुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here (denominative/verb ‘to request’)

• आदृताः: respectfully, with honor
• आदृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √दृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) ‘आदृत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (याताः/वीराः)

• पञ्चग्रामान्: five villages
• पञ्चग्रामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च ग्रामाः)

• अर्धराज्यात्: from half the kingdom
• अर्धराज्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अर्धं राज्यं’

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Sampradana/Target (प्रति/सम्प्रदान-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Sampradana/Target (प्रति/सम्प्रदान-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (दुर्योधनम्)

Speaker

Narrator within Lord Vishnu’s discourse to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Before violence, exhaust peaceful means; ask only what is necessary; righteous claim should be pursued with respect and restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga in governance: act according to duty with minimal harm; ahiṃsā as a preference when dharma allows.

Application: Use negotiation and mediation first; document fair demands; keep proportionality; maintain civility even amid dispute.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/embassy setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: rājadharma and conflict-ethics (sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa) appear in didactic strands (thematic).

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘five villages or half the kingdom’ request in Garuda Purana?

It highlights a dharmic attempt at settlement—asking for a minimal share (five villages) or a fair division (half the realm)—showing restraint and lawful negotiation before conflict.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the afterlife journey; it uses an Itihasa (Mahabharata) episode to teach dharma—how choices rooted in greed or fairness shape moral consequences discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek fair compromise and respectful dialogue before escalation; ethical restraint in disputes is presented as a dharmic standard for avoiding destructive outcomes.