Shloka 17

Adhyāya 32: Rājasūya-Dīkṣā and Appointment of Court Offices (राजसूयदीक्षा तथा अधिकारविनियोगः)

Devanagari script

पह्ववान्‌ बर्बरांश्नैव किरातान्‌ यवनाञछ्छकान्‌ । ततो रत्नान्युपादाय वशे कृत्वा च पार्थिवान्‌ | न्यवर्तत कुरुश्रेष्ठो नकुलश्रित्रमार्गवित्‌

Transliteration

pahlavān barbarāṃś caiva kirātān yavanān śakān | tato ratnāny upādāya vaśe kṛtvā ca pārthivān | nyavartata kuruśreṣṭho nakulaḥ citramārgavit ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Nakula, the foremost of the Kurus and skilled in varied strategies, subdued the Pahlavas, Barbarians, Kirātas, Yavanas, and Śakas—fierce mlecchas dwelling on islands of the sea. Having brought those kings under control and received tributes of precious gems, he then returned toward Indraprastha.

Word by Word

• पह्नवान्: Pahlavas (a people)
• पह्नवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पह्नव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बर्बरान्: Barbaras
• बर्बरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्बर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

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

• किरातान्: Kiratas
• किरातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• यवनान्: Yavanas (Greeks/foreigners)
• यवनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• छकान्: Chakas (tribal people; reading uncertain)
• छकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• रत्नानि: gems/treasures
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• उपादाय: having taken/received
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वशे: in (his) control
• वशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

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

• पार्थिवान्: kings
• पार्थिवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• न्यवर्तत: returned
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• कुरुश्रेष्ठः: the best of the Kurus
• कुरुश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चित्रमार्गवित्: knower of varied/clever methods (of conquest)
• चित्रमार्गवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रमार्गविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nakula
• Kuru dynasty
• Indraprastha
• Pahlavas
• Barbaras
• Kirātas
• Yavanas
• Śakas
• ratna (gems/tribute)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a model of royal power in which conquest culminates in the acceptance of overlordship and tribute, emphasizing political order and strategic governance rather than mere destruction—an ethic aligned with the rājasūya’s aim of establishing recognized sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pandavas’ campaign to gather submission for Yudhiṣṭhira’s rājasūya, Nakula defeats and subdues various frontier/foreign peoples (Pahlavas, Barbaras, Kirātas, Yavanas, Śakas), receives gems as tribute from their rulers, and then returns to Indraprastha.