Shloka 19

Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच ततो वैश्रवणो राजा विस्मयं परमं ययौ । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितं दृष्टवा मुचुकुन्दमसम्भ्रमम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | tato vaiśravaṇo rājā vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayau | kṣatradharme sthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā mucukundam asambhramam ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Then King Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) was filled with the greatest astonishment, for he saw Mucukunda standing firm in the kṣatriya code—steady and unshaken, without the least agitation.

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• वैश्रवणः: Vaishravana (Kubera)
• वैश्रवणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्रवण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परमम्: great/supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ययौ: went/attained (came to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षत्रधर्मे: in the duty of a kshatriya
• क्षत्रधर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितम्: standing/established
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• मुचुकुन्दम्: Muchukunda
• मुचुकुन्दम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुचुकुन्द
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• असम्भ्रमम्: unperturbed/unflustered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असम्भ्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Yudhishthira (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Vaishravana/Kubera (Vaiśravaṇa)
• King Mucukunda (Mucukunda)
• Kshatriya-dharma (Kṣatradharma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that kshatriya-dharma is fulfilled through steadfastness and self-mastery: a ruler’s true strength is calm adherence to duty without panic or agitation, even when confronted by extraordinary beings or situations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that Kubera (Vaishravana) becomes greatly astonished upon seeing King Mucukunda unwaveringly established in the warrior-king’s code, remaining composed and unflustered.