Shloka 27

यमसभावर्णनम् (Yamasabhā-varṇanam) — Nārada’s Description of Dharmarāja’s Assembly

Devanagari script

अथापरे सहस््राणि ये गता: शशबिन्दव: । इष्टवाश्वमेधैर्बहुभिर्महद्धिभूरिदक्षिणै:

Transliteration

athāpare sahasrāṇi ye gatāḥ śaśabindavaḥ | iṣṭavāśvamedhair bahubhir mahadbhir bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ ||

Translation

Nārada said: “And there were also thousands of others—men like Śaśabindu—who have passed away, though they performed many great Aśvamedha sacrifices and bestowed abundant gifts as sacrificial fees.”

Word by Word

अथthen/now

अपरेothers

सहस्राणिthousands

येwho/which

गताःgone; who went

शशबिन्दवःthe Śaśabindus (a people/descendants of Śaśabindu)

इष्टperformed (as sacrifices)

अश्वमेधैःby horse-sacrifices (Aśvamedhas)

बहुभिःmany

महद्भिःgreat

भूरिabundant; much

दक्षिणैःwith priestly gifts/fees

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Śaśabindu

Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

Dakṣiṇā (sacrificial gifts/fees)

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?

Even the most powerful kings who perform grand sacrifices and give immense charity are still subject to mortality; ritual merit and worldly renown do not negate impermanence, urging humility and right understanding of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada continues listing exemplary rulers of the past, noting that thousands like King Śaśabindu—despite performing many great Aśvamedhas with lavish priestly gifts—have nevertheless ‘gone’ (passed away), underscoring the transience of worldly achievements.