Shloka 16

Devanagari script

करन्धमो बाह्नविकश्न सुद्युम्नो बलवान्‌ मधु: । ऐलो मरुत्तश्न तथा बलवान्‌ पृथिवीपति:

Transliteration

Karaṇdhamaḥ Bāhnavikaś ca Sudyumno balavān Madhuḥ | Ailo Maruttaś ca tathā balavān Pṛthivīpatiḥ ||

Translation

Nārada said: “Karaṇdhama, Bāhnavika, and Sudyumna; the mighty Madhu; and likewise Aila and Marutta—each a powerful sovereign, a lord of the earth.” In this context, Nārada invokes a roll of renowned kings to underscore the moral lesson that even the strongest rulers and most celebrated lineages are subject to time and fate; greatness is measured not merely by power but by the dharmic use of power.

Word by Word

• करन्धमः: Karandhama (a king)
• करन्धमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करन्धम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बाह्नविकः: Bāhnavika (a king/person)
• बाह्नविकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्नविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्नः: (unclear/possibly scribal corruption)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्न (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यक्त)
• Form: Text appears corrupt/uncertain; treated as indeclinable particle/fragment

• सुद्युम्नः: Sudyumna (a king)
• सुद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मधुः: Madhu (a king/person)
• मधुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऐलः: Aila (descendant of Ila; a king)
• ऐलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मरुत्तः: Marutta (a king)
• मरुत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्न: (unclear/possibly scribal corruption)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्न (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यक्त)
• Form: Text appears corrupt/uncertain; treated as indeclinable particle/fragment

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथिवीपतिः: lord of the earth, king
• पृथिवीपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• नारद (Nārada)
• करन्धम (Karaṇdhama)
• बाह्नविक (Bāhnavika)
• सुद्युम्न (Sudyumna)
• मधु (Madhu)
• ऐल (Aila)
• मरुत्त (Marutta)
• पृथिवीपति (Pṛthivīpati, 'king/sovereign')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By naming celebrated, powerful kings, Nārada highlights the transience of worldly power and reputation. The implied ethical point is that sovereignty and strength are not permanent; therefore a ruler should ground conduct in dharma rather than pride, conquest, or mere display of might.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is speaking and reciting a catalogue of eminent rulers—Karaṇdhama, Bāhnavika, Sudyumna, Madhu, Aila, and Marutta—describing them as powerful lords of the earth. The list functions as an illustrative reminder within the discourse, pointing to the broader reflection on royal greatness and its limits.