Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

समानीय महातेजा: सर्वान्‌ भ्रातृन्‌ महीपति: । भीम॑ च नकुलं चैव सहदेवं च कौरव

Transliteration

samānīya mahātejāḥ sarvān bhrātṝn mahīpatiḥ | bhīmaṃ ca nakulaṃ caiva sahadevaṃ ca kaurava ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty king, radiant with great energy, summoned all his brothers—Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva. In this setting, Yudhiṣṭhira, the Kuru prince, mindful of dharma and of the right moment, prepares to address Bhīma, foremost among those who strike, with counsel suited to the occasion—signaling a deliberate, ethically grounded course of action rather than impulsive force.

Word by Word

• समानीय: having summoned / after calling together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु: नी)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे), कर्तरि, true

• महातेजाः: the great-splendoured one
• महातेजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महीपतिः: the king / lord of the earth
• महीपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमम्: Bhima
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सहदेवम्: Sahadeva
• सहदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कौरव: O Kaurava (descendant of Kuru)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कुरुनन्दन: O delight of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)
• Bhīma
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Kuru dynasty (Kaurava)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Leadership grounded in dharma begins with consultation and unity: the king gathers his closest allies (his brothers) before speaking and acting, emphasizing timely, considered counsel over mere strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, the king, calls together his brothers—especially Bhīma, noted for martial power—because he is about to deliver an appropriate instruction or decision in the unfolding events of the Aśvamedhika Parva.