Shloka 18

Devanagari script

किरात, दरद, दर्व, शूर, यमक, औदुम्बर, दुर्विभाग, पारद, बाह्लिक, काश्मीर, कुमार, घोरक, हंसकायन, शिबि, त्रिगर्त, यौधेय, भद्र, केकय, अम्बष्ठ, कौकुर, तार्क्ष्य, वस्त्रप, पह्चवव, वशातल, मौलेय, क्षुद्रक, मालव, शौण्डिक, कुक्कुर, शक, अंग, वंग, पुण्ड्र, शाणवत्य तथा गय--ये उत्तम कुलनमें उत्पन्न श्रेष्ठ एवं शस्त्रधारी क्षत्रिय राजकुमार सैकड़ोंकी संख्यामें पंक्तिबद्ध खड़े होकर अजातशत्रु युधिष्ठिरको बहुत धन अर्पित कर रहे थे || १३-- १७ || वज्भा: कलिड्डरा मगधास्ताग्रलिप्ता: सपुण्ड्रका: । दौवालिका: सागरका: पत्रोर्णा: शैशवास्तथा,भारत! वंग, कलिंग, मगध, ताग्रलिप्त, पुण्ड्रक, दौवालिक, सागरक, पत्रोर्ण, शैशव तथा कर्णप्रावरण आदि बहुत-से क्षत्रियनरेश वहाँ दरवाजेपर खड़े थे तथा राजाज्ञासे द्वारपालगण उन सबको यह संदेश देते थे कि आपलोग अपने लिये समय निश्चित कर लें। फिर उत्तम भेंट-सामग्री अर्पित करें। इसके बाद आपलोगोंको भीतर जानेका मार्ग मिल सकेगा

Transliteration

vaṅgāḥ kaliṅgāḥ magadhās tāmrali(pt)āḥ sapuṇḍrakāḥ | daivālikāḥ sāgarakāḥ patrornāḥ śaiśavās tathā ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “O Bhārata, the kings of Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Magadha, Tāmrali(pt)a, and Puṇḍra—along with the Daivālika, Sāgaraka, Patrornā, and Śaiśava rulers—were standing at the doorway. By the king’s command, the gatekeepers conveyed to them: ‘Fix your appointed time, then present your finest offerings; only thereafter will you be granted passage within.’”

Word by Word

वङ्गाःthe Vangas (people/kingdom)

कलिङ्गाःthe Kalingas

दरदाःthe Daradas

मगधाःthe Magadhas

ताम्रलिप्ताःthe Tamraliptas (people of Tamralipti)

सपुण्ड्रकाःtogether with the Pundrakas

दौवालिकाःthe Dauvalikas

सागरकाःthe Sagarakas

पत्रोर्णाःthe Patrorṇas (lit. 'leaf-wool' people; a tribe-name)

शैशवाःthe Shaishavas

तथाand; also; likewise

भारतO Bharata (address)

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Bhārata (addressee)

Vaṅga

Kaliṅga

Magadha

Tāmralipta (Tāmrali(pt)a)

Puṇḍra

Daivālika

Sāgaraka

Patrornā

Śaiśava

gatekeepers (dvārapāla)

doorway/gate (dvāra)

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 passage highlights how royal power is enacted through orderly protocol: access to the king’s presence is regulated, and offerings are formalized. Ethically, it underscores the courtly ideal of discipline and hierarchy—yet, in the broader Sabha Parva context, such spectacle also becomes a stage for rivalry and envy, especially in Duryodhana’s perception.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the grand assembly connected with Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial rite, many regional kings arrive with tribute. They stand at the entrance, and the gatekeepers—acting under royal command—direct them to wait their appointed turn, present their gifts, and only then enter the hall.