Shloka 2

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

धृतिमन्तो दह्वीनिषेवा धर्मात्मानो यशस्विन: । मूर्धाभिषिक्तास्ते चैनं राजान: पर्युपासते

Transliteration

dhṛtimanto dahvīniṣevā dharmātmāno yaśasvinaḥ | mūrdhābhiṣiktās te cainaṃ rājānaḥ paryupāsate ||

Translation

Duryodhana said: “Steadfast, devoted to the sacred fire, righteous in spirit, and renowned—those kings who have been consecrated by royal anointing attend upon this king and wait upon him with deference.”

Word by Word

• धृतिमन्तः: steadfast, resolute
• धृतिमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमन्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दह्वीनिषेवाः: devoted to (serving) the wise/learned
• दह्वीनिषेवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह्वीनिषेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मात्मानः: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यशस्विनः: glorious, renowned
• यशस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मूर्धाभिषिक्ताः: consecrated (anointed on the head), crowned
• मूर्धाभिषिक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्धाभिषिक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• एनम्: him (this person)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रत्ययान्त रूपम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पर्युपासते: attend upon, wait upon, serve respectfully
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (परि-उप-आस्)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• the king referred to as 'enam' (this king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores traditional markers of legitimate authority: kings who are ritually consecrated and committed to dharma and Vedic rites show deference to a central sovereign. Ethical weight is placed on righteousness, self-control, and ritual discipline as foundations for political honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana is describing the stature of a particular king (referred to as ‘this king’) by noting that many crowned and reputable rulers—known for dharma and fire-ritual observance—stand in attendance upon him, highlighting his prestige and the political hierarchy around him.