Shloka 11

Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort

Devanagari script

ततः संश्राव्यमाणेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत | अत्यक्रामद्‌ धार्तराष्ट्रं सा कन्या वरवर्णिनी

Transliteration

tataḥ saṁśrāvyamāṇeṣu rājñāṁ nāmasu bhārata | atyakrāmad dhārtarāṣṭraṁ sā kanyā varavarṇinī bharatanandana ||

Translation

Nārada said: “Then, O Bhārata, as the names of the kings were being announced aloud and made known one by one, that maiden of exquisite beauty passed on, moving beyond the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana), O joy of the Bharatas.”

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')

• संश्राव्यमाणेषु: while being recited/aloud announced
• संश्राव्यमाणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: संश्रू (धातु) → संश्राव्यमाण (कृदन्त)
• Form: locative plural; present passive participle (शानच्), neuter/masc. loc. pl. agreeing with an implied 'काले/समये' or with 'नामसु' by sense

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine; genitive plural

• नामसु: in/among the names
• नामसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन्
• Form: neuter; locative plural

• भारत: O Bharata
• भारत: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine; vocative singular

• अत्यक्रामत्: passed beyond / went past
• अत्यक्रामत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + क्रम्
• Form: imperfect (लङ्); 3rd person singular; parasmaipada

• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana)
• धार्तराष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: masculine; accusative singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: feminine; nominative singular

• कन्या: maiden/princess
• कन्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: feminine; nominative singular

• वरवर्णिनी: of excellent complexion; very beautiful
• वरवर्णिनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरवर्णिनी
• Form: feminine; nominative singular

• भरतनन्दन: O delight of the Bharatas
• भरतनन्दन: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: masculine; vocative singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Bhārata (addressee)
• Bharatanandana (addressee epithet)
• Dhārtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana; son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• kanyā (the maiden/princess)
• rājānaḥ (kings, collectively)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights personal agency and social signaling in a royal selection context: as candidates are publicly identified, the maiden’s movement past Duryodhana implies a deliberate preference or rejection. Ethically, it underscores that status alone does not guarantee acceptance; choice must align with discernment and propriety.

What is happening in the narrative?

During a formal presentation where kings’ names are being proclaimed, a beautiful princess proceeds forward and passes beyond the Dhārtarāṣṭra prince—understood as Duryodhana—suggesting she does not stop for him and continues toward others.