Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

खड्गशक्तिधरैवीरिर्गदामुसलपाणिभि: । प्रासतोमरहस्तैश्व ययौ योधशतैर्वृत:,जब राजाने यात्रा की, उस समय खड्ग, शक्ति, गदा, मुसल, प्रास और तोमर हाथमें लिये सैकड़ों योद्धा उन्हें घेरे हुए थे

Transliteration

khaḍgaśaktidharair vīrair gadāmusalapāṇibhiḥ | prāsatomarahastaiś ca yayau yodhaśatair vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When the king set out on his journey, he proceeded surrounded by hundreds of warriors—heroes bearing swords and spears, with maces and pestles in hand, and others holding lances and javelins.

Word by Word

• खड्गशक्तिधरैः: by sword-and-spear-bearers
• खड्गशक्तिधरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गशक्तिधर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वीरैः: by heroes/warriors
• वीरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गदामुसलपाणिभिः: by those having mace and pestle in hand
• गदामुसलपाणिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदामुसलपाणि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रासतोमरहस्तैः: by those whose hands held spears and tomaras
• प्रासतोमरहस्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रासतोमरहस्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ययौ: went/proceeded
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (याति)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• योधशतैः: by hundreds of warriors
• योधशतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योधशत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वृतः: surrounded/encircled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (√वृ, संवरणे)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• the king (rājā)
• sword (khaḍga)
• spear/lance (śakti)
• mace (gadā)
• pestle/club (musala)
• lance (prāsa)
• javelin (tomara)
• warriors (yodhāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethic of kingship: a ruler must be protected and supported by disciplined force so that governance, justice, and public safety can be maintained. Martial power is presented as an instrument of order, not mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king sets out on a journey, accompanied by a large armed escort. The text lists the weapons carried—swords, spears, maces, pestles, lances, and javelins—to convey the scale and readiness of the royal retinue.