Shloka 14

Devanagari script

मतिनारसुता राजं॑श्नृत्वारो$मितविक्रमा: । तंसुर्महानतिरथो द्रह्मुश्चाप्रतिमद्युति:,राजन! मतिनारके चार पुत्र हुए, जो अत्यन्त पराक्रमी थे। उनके नाम ये हैं--तंसु, महान, अतिरथ और अनुपम तेजस्वी ट्रह्मु

Transliteration

Matinārasutā rājan catvāro 'mitavikramāḥ | Taṃsur Mahān Atiratho Druhyuś cāpratima-dyutiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O King, Matināra had four sons, all of immeasurable prowess—Taṃsu, Mahān, Atiratha, and Druhyu, whose splendor was without equal.

Word by Word

मतिनारस्यof Matināra

सुताःsons

राजन्O king

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

अरोमितविक्रमाःwhose prowess is not diminished (very valiant)

तंसुःTansu

महान्Mahān (name: 'Great')

अतिरथःAtiratha

द्रुह्मुःDruhmu

चand

अप्रतिमद्युतिःof incomparable splendor

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Matināra

Taṃsu

Mahān

Atiratha

Druhyu

King (Janamejaya, implied addressee)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on legitimate succession and the ideal qualities of rulers—prowess and splendor—framing political authority within an ethical expectation of kṣatriya responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues the genealogical narration to King Janamejaya, listing Matināra’s four sons by name as part of the dynastic lineage leading toward later royal lines.