Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

तांश् वृष्ण्यन्धकश्रेष्ठान्‌ कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: । प्रतिजग्राह सत्कारैर्यथाविधि यथागतम्‌,कुन्तीनन्दन युधिष्ठिरने वृष्णि और अन्धकवंशके श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंका विधिपूर्वक यथायोग्य स्वागत-सत्कार किया

Transliteration

tān vṛṣṇyandhakaśreṣṭhān kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | pratijagrāha satkārair yathāvidhi yathāgatam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Kuntī’s son Yudhiṣṭhira received those foremost men of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, honoring them with due courtesies—according to proper custom and in a manner fitting to their arrival. The scene affirms the king’s commitment to dharma through respectful hospitality and right conduct toward eminent guests and allies.

Word by Word

तान्them

वृष्ण्यन्धकश्रेष्ठान्the foremost among the Vrishnis and Andhakas

कुन्तीपुत्रःKunti's son

युधिष्ठिरःYudhishthira

प्रतिजग्राहreceived / welcomed

सत्कारैःwith honors / courtesies

यथाविधिaccording to rule / duly

यथागतम्as they had come / appropriately to their arrival

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Kuntī

Vṛṣṇis

Andhakas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as proper hospitality: a righteous king honors worthy guests with fitting respect, following established norms (yathāvidhi) and responding appropriately to the situation (yathāgatam).

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira formally receives and honors the leading men of the Vṛṣṇi and Andhaka clans, offering them customary courtesies as part of diplomatic and ethical royal conduct.