Shloka 4

अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha

Completion of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

देवराज: सहस्राक्ष: क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणै: । देवराज्यं महातेजा: प्राप्तवानखिलं विभु:

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca |

devarājaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ kratubhir bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ |

devarājyaṁ mahātejāḥ prāptavān akhilaṁ vibhuḥ ||

Translation

Janamejaya said: “The mighty Lord of the gods, Indra of a thousand eyes, by performing many sacrifices rich in priestly gifts, attained the entire sovereignty of the gods.”

Word by Word

• देवराजः: king of the gods
• देवराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रतुभिः: by/with sacrifices
• क्रतुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भूरिदक्षिणैः: having abundant fees/gifts (as dakṣiṇā)
• भूरिदक्षिणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरिदक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• देवराज्यम्: the sovereignty/kingdom of the gods
• देवराज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• प्राप्तवान्: obtained/attained
• प्राप्तवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्तवतु (past active participle)

• अखिलम्: entire, whole
• अखिलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विभुः: the mighty lord
• विभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Indra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a dharmic model of authority: sovereignty is linked to accumulated merit through yajña and to ethical generosity through abundant dakṣiṇā. Power is portrayed as legitimately grounded in disciplined ritual action and giving, not mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya describes Indra’s rise to complete divine sovereignty, stating that Indra performed numerous sacrifices accompanied by lavish gifts, and thereby obtained the full lordship of the gods.