Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शरभेणार्चितस्तत्र शिशुपालसुतेन सः । युद्धपूर्व तदा तेन पूजया च महाबल:,वहाँ शिशुपालके पुत्र शरभने पहले तो युद्ध किया और फिर स्वागत-सत्कारके द्वारा उस महाबली अश्वका पूजन किया

Transliteration

śarabheṇārcitas tatra śiśupālasutena saḥ | yuddhapūrvaṃ tadā tena pūjayā ca mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: There, Śarabha, the son of Śiśupāla, honored the mighty one. First he engaged him in battle, and afterward he offered him due reception and worship—showing that even amid conflict, respect and proper conduct were not abandoned.

Word by Word

शरभेणby/with Sharabha

अर्चितःhonoured/worshipped

तत्रthere

शिशुपालसुतेनby the son of Shishupala

सःhe

युद्धपूर्वम्before the battle / first in battle

तदाthen

तेनby him/with that

पूजयाby worship/with honour

चand

महाबलःthe mighty one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śarabha

Śiśupāla

Śiśupāla’s son (Śarabha)

the mighty one (mahābalaḥ; unnamed in this verse)

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 a dharmic ideal of restraint and honor: even when conflict occurs, one should uphold proper respect and ethical conduct afterward, separating necessary warfare from personal hatred.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śarabha, identified as Śiśupāla’s son, first confronts the mighty figure in battle and then, once the fighting is past, formally honors him with reception and worship, indicating a shift from combat to courteous observance.