Shloka 35

Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां प्रतिगृहीतं तु वृष्णिचक्रं महर्द्धिमत्‌ विवेश खाण्डवप्रस्थं पताकाध्वजशोभितम्‌,उन दोनोंके द्वारा स्वागतपूर्वक लाये हुए वृष्णि-वंशियोंके उस परम समृद्धिशाली समुदायने खाण्डवप्रस्थमें प्रवेश किया। उस समय ध्वजा-पताकाओंसे सजाया हुआ वह नगर सुशोभित हो रहा था

Transliteration

tābhyāṃ pratigṛhītaṃ tu vṛṣṇicakraṃ maharddhimat viveśa khāṇḍavaprasthaṃ patākādhvajaśobhitam

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Welcomed and received by those two, the exceedingly prosperous host of the Vṛṣṇis entered Khāṇḍavaprastha. The city at that time shone splendidly, adorned with banners and standards—an outward sign of honor, alliance, and orderly civic celebration.

Word by Word

• {'tābhyām': 'by those two (dual instrumental)', 'pratigṛhītam': 'received, welcomed, accepted with honor', 'tu': 'indeed

• and then (connective emphasis)', 'vṛṣṇicakram': 'the Vṛṣṇi host/retinue

• the circle (company) of the Vṛṣṇis', 'maharddhimat': 'very prosperous, endowed with great splendor/power', 'viveśa': 'entered', 'khāṇḍavaprastham': 'Khāṇḍavaprastha (the city/region later associated with Indraprastha)', 'patākā': 'banner, flag', 'dhvaja': 'standard, ensign', 'śobhitam': 'adorned, beautified, made splendid'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vṛṣṇis (Vṛṣṇicakra)
• Khāṇḍavaprastha
• patākā (banners)
• dhvaja (standards)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic social conduct: honoring guests and allies through proper reception. Public celebration (banners and standards) symbolizes legitimate, orderly alliance-building and the ethical duty of hosts to welcome respected visitors.

What is happening in the narrative?

A prosperous company of the Vṛṣṇis, having been formally received by two hosts (contextually, the principal recipients in the episode), enters the city of Khāṇḍavaprastha, which is decorated with flags and standards to mark the occasion.