Shloka 583

Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality

Devanagari script

सत्कारेण नरव्याप्रं सहदेवं युधाम्पतिम्‌ । अग्निके लौट जानेपर उन्हींकी आज्ञासे राजा नील उस समय वहाँ आये और उन्होंने योद्धाओंके अधिपति पुरुषसिंह सहदेवका सत्कारपूर्वक पूजन किया

Transliteration

satkāreṇa naravyāghraṃ sahadevaṃ yudhāṃ patim | agnike (’) … rājā nīlaḥ tadā tatra ājñayā samāgataḥ, sa ca yoddhṛṇām adhipatiṃ puruṣasiṃhaṃ sahadevaṃ satkārapūrvakaṃ pūjayām āsa |

Translation

Sahadeva said: With due honor, King Nīla came there at that time by Sahadeva’s command and, in a spirit of respectful hospitality, paid reverent homage to Sahadeva—the tiger among men, the lord of warriors. The episode underscores the ethical force of rightful authority: when leadership is exercised in accordance with dharma, it elicits willing cooperation and courteous recognition rather than coercion.

Word by Word

• सत्कारेण: with honor/respect
• सत्कारेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्कार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• नरव्याघ्रम्: the tiger among men
• नरव्याघ्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरव्याघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• युधाम्: of battles
• युधाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पतिम्: lord/master
• पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

सहदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sahadeva
• King Nīla
• Agni (implied by 'agnike', contextually connected to Agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate authority grounded in dharma naturally invites respectful compliance and courteous honor; leadership is affirmed through satkāra (honor) rather than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

By Sahadeva’s instruction, King Nīla arrives at the place and formally honors Sahadeva, acknowledging him as a foremost warrior and leader.