Shloka 19

Gālava Completes the Horse-Gift: Garuḍa’s Counsel and Viśvāmitra’s Acceptance (गालव-विष्वामित्र-सम्बन्धः)

Devanagari script

हम्येंषु रमणीयेषु प्रासादशिखरेषु च । वातायनविमानेषु तथा गर्भगृहेषु च

Transliteration

hamyeṣu ramaṇīyeṣu prāsādaśikhareṣu ca | vātāyanavimāneṣu tathā garbhagṛheṣu ca

Translation

“In delightful mansions, upon the summits of palaces, in airy pavilions with windows, and likewise in the inner chambers (sanctum-like rooms)…”

Word by Word

हम्येषुin mansions

रमणीयेषुdelightful/beautiful

प्रासादpalace

शिखरेषुon the summits/rooftops

चand

वातायनwindow

विमानेषुin aerial cars / lofty structures (vimānas)

तथाlikewise/also

गर्भinner/core

गृहेषुin chambers/rooms

चand

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

hamya (mansions)

prāsāda-śikhara (palace rooftops/summits)

vātāyana-vimāna (windowed pavilions/upper chambers)

garbhagṛha (inner chambers)

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 primarily paints a vivid setting of refined, private, and elevated royal spaces—mansions, palace tops, airy windowed pavilions, and inner chambers—often used in the Mahābhārata to frame discussions about pleasure, secrecy, and the contrast between worldly luxury and higher ethical aims.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing various elegant locations within royal architecture—publicly impressive heights and secluded inner rooms—continuing a larger narration in which such places serve as the backdrop for events, counsel, or conduct being highlighted.