Shloka 166

युधिष्ठिरस्य राज्याभिषेकः | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Royal Consecration

Devanagari script

पाञ्चजन्याभिषिक्तश्न राजामृतमुखो5 भवत्‌ | श्रीकृष्णकी आज्ञासे पाञ्चजन्य शंखद्वारा अभिषेक हो जानेपर भाइयोंसहित राजा युधिष्ठिरका मुख इतना सुन्दर दिखायी देने लगा, मानो नेत्रोंसे अमृतकी वर्षा कर रहा हो

Transliteration

Pāñcajanyābhiṣiktaś ca rājāmṛtamukho ’bhavat |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When King Yudhiṣṭhira was ceremonially anointed—by Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s command—through the auspicious conch Pāñcajanya, his face, with his brothers beside him, shone with surpassing radiance, as though his very eyes were showering nectar.

Word by Word

• पाञ्चजन्य: by (the conch) Pāñcajanya
• पाञ्चजन्य: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चजन्य (प्रातिपदिक; शङ्खनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिषिक्तः: anointed, consecrated
• अभिषिक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-षिच् (धातु) → अभिषिक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमृतमुखः: having a nectar-like face
• अमृतमुखः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: became, was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Pāñcajanya (conch)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate rule is affirmed through dharmic consecration and righteous guidance: the king’s authority is portrayed as sanctified and beneficent, symbolized by a nectar-like radiance rather than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

At Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s instruction, Yudhiṣṭhira undergoes an abhiṣeka connected with the conch Pāñcajanya; afterward his face appears exceptionally radiant, with his brothers present, indicating auspicious installation and moral renewal after conflict.