Shloka 19

अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha

Completion of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ते तु खिन्ना विवादेन ऋषयस्तत्त्वदर्शिन:

Transliteration

te tu khinnā vivādena ṛṣayas tattvadarśinaḥ | bharatanandana! te tattvadarśī ṛṣayaḥ yadā asmin vivāde bahu khinnā abhavan, tadā indreṇa saha mantrayitvā etasmin viṣaye rājānam uparicaraṃ vasuṃ papracchuḥ— “mahāmati! vayaṃ dharmaviṣaye saṃśaye patitāḥ smaḥ; bhavān asmān satyaṃ vaktuṃ arhati.”

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The seers, true discerners of reality, grew weary from the dispute. Then, after taking counsel with Indra, they approached King Uparicara Vasu and asked about the matter: “O great-minded one, we have fallen into doubt regarding dharma. Tell us what is truly correct.”

Word by Word

• ते: they (those)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• खिन्नाः: wearied, distressed
• खिन्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खिन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विवादेन: by/with the dispute
• विवादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्त्वदर्शिनः: seers of truth
• तत्त्वदर्शिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्वदर्शिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भरतनन्दन: O descendant/delighter of Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Indra
• King Uparicara Vasu
• Bharatanandana (addressed listener, traditionally Janamejaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When even learned sages become entangled in disagreement about dharma, they seek clarification through counsel and by approaching a trusted authority. The verse highlights humility in ethical inquiry and the importance of truthful guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of truth-seeing sages, exhausted by a dispute, consult Indra and then question King Uparicara Vasu to resolve their uncertainty about what dharma requires in the matter under debate.