Shloka 23

Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

यथा पाण्डुर्महाबाहुर्धनुर्धरवरो युधि । अस्मास्वासज्य सर्वाणि राजकार्याण्यशेषत:

Transliteration

yathā pāṇḍur mahābāhur dhanurdharavaro yudhi | asmāsv āsajya sarvāṇi rājakāryāṇy aśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Janamejaya said: “Just as Pāṇḍu, mighty-armed—foremost among bowmen in battle—relying upon us, fulfilled all the duties of kingship in their entirety.”

Word by Word

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• पाण्डुः: Pāṇḍu
• पाण्डुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनुर्धरवरः: the best of bow-bearers
• धनुर्धरवरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुर्धरवर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• अस्मासु: upon us, among us
• अस्मासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Locative, Plural

• आसज्य: having fastened/attached; having imposed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सञ्ज्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• राजकार्याणि: royal duties/affairs of the king
• राजकार्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजकार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अशेषतः: entirely, without remainder
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Pāṇḍu
• rājakārya (royal duties/affairs of state)
• yuddha (battle/war)
• dhanuḥ (bow, implied by dhanurdhara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājadhrama in practice: a capable king is praised not only for martial excellence but for fully discharging the complete range of royal responsibilities, often by relying on trusted supporters and institutions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya, in questioning within the Ādi Parva’s genealogical and early-history frame, refers to Pāṇḍu’s stature—mighty and foremost in battle—and notes how he carried out all affairs of kingship completely, relying upon “us” (his own people/kinsmen/supporters) as the basis for that governance.