Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

नानायुधधरैश्वापि नानावेषधरैस्तथा । ह्षितस्वनमिश्रैश्न क्षेगेडितास्फोटितस्वनै:,महाराज दुष्यन्तके यात्रा करते समय योद्धाओंके सिंहनाद, शंख और नगाड़ोंकी आवाज, रथके पहियोंकी घरघराहट, बड़े-बड़े गजराजोंकी चिग्घाड़, घोड़ोंकी हिनहिनाहट, नाना प्रकारके आयुध तथा भाँति-भाँतिके वेष धारण करनेवाले योद्धाओंद्वारा की हुई गर्जना और ताल ठोंकनेकी आवाजोंसे चारों ओर भारी कोलाहल मच गया था। महलके श्रेष्ठ शिखरपर बैठी हुई स्त्रियाँ उत्तम राजोचित शोभासे सम्पन्न शूरवीर दुष्यन्तको देख रही थीं। वे अपने यशको बढ़ानेवाले, इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी और शत्रुओंका नाश करनेवाले थे। शत्रुरूपी मतवाले हाथीको रोकनेके लिये उनमें सिंहके समान शक्ति थी

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

nānāyudhadharair vāpi nānāveṣadharais tathā |

hṛṣitasvanamiśraiś ca khegeḍitāsphoṭitasvanaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Amid warriors bearing many kinds of weapons and wearing many kinds of attire, excited shouts mingled with playful cries, with clapping and the snapping of arms, until on every side a great tumult arose. It was the charged vigor of a royal expedition, making the king’s fame and authority visible to all.

Word by Word

नानाvarious, many kinds of

आयुधधरैःby weapon-bearers

चand

अपिalso, even

नानाvarious, many kinds of

वेषधरैःby those wearing various disguises/attires

तथाlikewise, so

हृष्टस्वनमिश्रैःby those mingled with joyous sounds

चand

क्ष्वेडितby roars/cries (lion-roar etc.)

आस्फोटितby clappings/snappings (of arms, hands etc.)

स्वनैःby sounds/noises

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

warriors (yodhāḥ)

weapons (āyudhāni)

costumes/disguises (veṣāḥ)

sounds/shouts (svanāḥ)

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 how royal power is publicly enacted: disciplined warriors, varied arms and attire, and controlled tumult create a spectacle that consolidates a king’s authority and reputation. Ethically, it points to the social function of kṣatriya display—strength and order presented as protection and legitimacy, not mere noise.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the expedition/army moves, the warriors—armed in many ways and dressed in varied guises—raise a loud, mixed clamor of excited shouts and snapping/clapping sounds. The narration sets the atmosphere of a grand martial departure and the public visibility of royal might.