Shloka 21

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

वाहनानां च विविधा: शाला: शालीक्षुगोरसै: । उपेता भरतमश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश च धर्मराट्‌,भरतभूषण! धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उन राजाओंकी सवारियोंके लिये भी धान, ऊँख और गोरससे भरे-पूरे घर दिये

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Vāhanānāṃ ca vividhāḥ śālāḥ śālyikṣugorasaiḥ | upetā bharataśreṣṭho vyādideśa ca dharmarāṭ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira, best among the Bharatas, ordered that various shelters and stables be provided for the visiting kings’ mounts and vehicles, fully supplied with rice, sugarcane, and dairy produce.

Word by Word

• वाहनानाम्: of the vehicles/mounts
• वाहनानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शालाः: halls/sheds (stables, shelters)
• शालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाला
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शालि: with rice/paddy
• शालि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• इक्षु: with sugarcane
• इक्षु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गोरसैः: with milk/curds etc. (cow-products)
• गोरसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोरस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उपेताः: provided with; furnished with
• उपेताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-इ (उपेत)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• भरतमश्रेष्ठः: the best of the Bharatas
• भरतमश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यादिदेश: ordered; directed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-दि-श्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• धर्मराट्: the king of dharma (Dharmaraja)
• धर्मराट्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-राज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja/Dharmarāṭ, Bharataśreṣṭha)
• vāhana (mounts/vehicles)
• śālā (shelters/stables)
• śāli (rice)
• ikṣu (sugarcane)
• gorasa (dairy produce)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A dharmic ruler practices hospitality comprehensively: honoring guests includes caring for their attendants, animals, and logistical needs, not merely offering ceremonial respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Ashvamedha-related gatherings, Yudhiṣṭhira orders well-stocked shelters for the visiting kings’ mounts and conveyances, supplying staple foods and dairy to ensure orderly, respectful accommodation.