Shloka 17

Chapter 10: Survivors Console the Royal Couple and Disperse (धृतराष्ट्र–गान्धारी प्रति निवेदनम्)

Devanagari script

शिल्पिनो वणिजो वैश्या: सर्वकर्मोपजीविन: । ते पार्थिवं पुरस्कृत्य निर्ययुर्नगराद्‌ बहि:,कारीगर, व्यापारी वैश्य तथा सब प्रकारके कर्मोंसे जीवन-निर्वाह करनेवाले लोग राजाको आगे करके नगरसे बाहर निकले

Transliteration

śilpino vaṇijo vaiśyāḥ sarvakarmopajīvinaḥ | te pārthivaṃ puraskṛtya niryayur nagarād bahiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The artisans, the merchants, the Vaiśyas, and all those who earned their livelihood by every kind of work went out beyond the city, placing the king at their head.

Word by Word

शिल्पिनःartisans, craftsmen

वणिजःmerchants, traders

वैश्याःVaishyas (members of the merchant class)

सर्वकर्मोपजीविनःthose who live by all kinds of work

तेthey

पार्थिवम्the king

पुरस्कृत्यhaving placed in front; having made (him) the leader

निर्ययुःwent out, departed

नगरात्from the city

बहिःoutside

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

pārthiva (the king)

nagara (the city)

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?

The verse highlights social cohesion and the dharmic ideal of ordered leadership: diverse working communities act together, acknowledging the king’s role as the foremost representative and protector in public action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Various occupational groups—craftsmen, traders, Vaiśyas, and others—leave the city in a body, with the king placed at the front, indicating a formal, collective departure in response to the unfolding events of the Strī Parva.