Shloka 15

Devanagari script

अलंचक्ुश्व माल्यौघधै: पुरुषा नागसाह्दयम्‌ । पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिथर्थ्वजैश्न विविधैरपि,पुरवासी मनुष्योंने फ़ूलोंकी मालाओं, वन्दनवारों, भाँति-भाँतिकी ध्वजाओं तथा विचित्र-विचित्र पताकाओंसे हस्तिनापुरको सजाया था

Transliteration

alaṃcakruś ca mālyaughaiḥ puruṣā nāgasāhvayam | patākābhir vicitrābhir atha dhvajaiś ca vividhair api ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The townsmen adorned Nāgasāhvaya (Hastināpura) with heaps of flower-garlands, with festoons and other floral decorations, and with many kinds of banners and richly varied flags. The scene conveyed a public act of reverence and civic duty—an outward celebration meant to honor the royal rite and the restored order of the realm after conflict.

Word by Word

अलञ्चकुःthey adorned / they decorated

माल्यौघैःwith heaps/streams of garlands

पुरुषाःmen / people

नागसाह्वयम्Hastināpura (the city called ‘Nāga’)

पताकाभिःwith banners

विचित्राभिःvariegated / diverse

अथthen / and

ध्वजैःwith flags/standards

नानाविधैःof many kinds

अपिalso / even

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Nāgasāhvaya (Hastināpura)

mālya (flower garlands)

patākā (flags/pennants)

dhvaja (standards/banners)

puruṣāḥ (townspeople)

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 civic participation in upholding dharma through respectful public conduct: the community expresses loyalty and reverence by beautifying the capital for a major royal-ritual occasion, signaling social harmony and restored legitimacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

The citizens of Hastināpura (Nāgasāhvaya) decorate the city with garlands, floral festoons, banners, and colorful flags, preparing a festive, honorific setting connected with the events of the Aśvamedhika Parva.