Shloka 14

Śakuntalā’s Satya-Discourse and the Recognition of Bharata (शकुन्तला–सत्योपदेशः; भरतप्रतिग्रहः)

Devanagari script

द्विजक्षत्रियविट्शूद्रा निर्यान्तमनुजग्मिरे । ददृशुर्वर्धभानास्ते आशीर्भिश्च॒ जयेन च,इस प्रकार महाराज वनमें हिंसक पशुओंका शिकार खेलनेके लिये बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ नगरसे बाहर निकले। वे देवराज इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी थे। मतवाले हाथीकी पीठपर बैठकर यात्रा करनेवाले उन महाराज दुष्यन्तके पीछे-पीछे ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र सभी वर्णोके लोग गये और सब आशीर्वाद एवं विजयसूचक वचनोंद्वारा उनके अभ्युदयकी कामना करते हुए उनकी ओर देखते रहे

Transliteration

vaśiṣṭha uvāca: dvijakṣatriyaviṭśūdrā niryāntam anujagmire | dadṛśur vardhabhānās te āśīrbhiś ca jayena ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: As the king set out from the city, people of all four social orders—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras—followed behind him. They kept looking upon him with auspicious blessings and cries of victory, expressing their hope for his success and well-being as he departed on his royal expedition.

Word by Word

द्विजBrahmins (twice-born)

क्षत्रियKshatriyas

विट्Vaishyas

शूद्राःShudras

निर्यान्तम्going out, departing

अनुजग्मिरेfollowed

ददृशुःsaw, looked at

वर्धभानाःwith increasing radiance/splendour (gladdened, flourishing)

तेthey

आशीर्भिःwith blessings

चand

जयेनwith (words of) victory / victory

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaishampayana

Brahmins (dvija)

Kshatriyas

Vaishyas (viṭ)

Shudras

the departing king (context: Duṣyanta in this episode)

city (nagara, implied by context)

forest/hunt expedition (contextual)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of a king’s public legitimacy: society collectively supports the ruler’s undertaking through blessings and auspicious acclamations. Ethically, it reflects the expectation that royal action (such as an expedition) is undertaken under communal goodwill and within the framework of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the king departs (in this episode, Duṣyanta setting out), people from all four varnas follow him and watch him, offering benedictions and victory-cries (‘jaya’), signaling public approval and wishing him success.