Shloka 8

सहदेव-दक्षिण-दिग्विजयः — Sahadeva’s Southern Conquest and the Māhiṣmatī–Agni Encounter

Devanagari script

तत एन॑ महावीर्य महाकाया महाबला: । द्वारपाला: समासाद्य हृष्टा वचनमन्रुवन्‌,इतनेहीमें महापराक्रमी अर्जुनके पास बहुत-से विशालकाय महाबली द्वारपाल आ पहुँचे और प्रसन्नतापूर्वक बोले--

Transliteration

tata enaṁ mahāvīryaṁ mahākāyā mahābalāḥ | dvārapālāḥ samāsādya hṛṣṭā vacanam abruvan ||

Translation

Then those gatekeepers—men of great strength and massive build—approached that mighty hero and, delighted, addressed him with respectful words.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

एनम्him (this person)

महावीर्याःof great valor

महाकायाःhuge-bodied

महाबलाःvery strong

द्वारपालाःdoor-guards, gatekeepers

समासाद्यhaving approached

हृष्टाःdelighted, pleased

वचनम्words, speech

अन्वब्रुवन्they spoke (thereupon)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

dvārapālāḥ (gatekeepers)

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 dharma as orderly conduct within institutions: guardians perform their duty of regulating access, and their pleased, respectful speech reflects proper etiquette and disciplined service in a royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal hall context of the Sabha Parva, powerful gatekeepers approach the mighty hero (understood here as Arjuna in the given edition’s gloss) and, being pleased, speak to him—signaling a formal reception or communication at the threshold.