Shloka 14

कर्ण–कृष्णसंवादः (Karṇa–Kṛṣṇa-saṃvādaḥ) — Karṇa’s Statement on Lineage, Loyalty, and the ‘Śastra-yajña’ Metaphor

Devanagari script

हिरण्मयांश्व ते कुम्भान्‌ राजतान्‌ पार्थिवांस्तथा | ओष ध्य: सर्वबीजानि सर्वरत्नानि वीरुध:

Transliteration

hiraṇmayāṁś ca te kumbhān rājātān pārthivāṁs tathā | oṣadhyaḥ sarvabījāni sarvaratnāni vīrudhaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu-deva said: “For you, many princes and princesses will come bringing consecration-offerings—golden jars, silver jars, and earthen jars as well; collections of medicinal herbs, seeds of every kind, all varieties of gems, and creepers and other plants.”

Word by Word

• हिरण्मयान्: golden
• हिरण्मयान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ते: to you / for you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• कुम्भान्: pots, jars
• कुम्भान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• राजतान्: silver (made of silver)
• राजतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पार्थिवान्: earthen, made of clay
• पार्थिवान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• ओषध्यः: medicinal herbs
• ओषध्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वबीजानि: all kinds of seeds
• सर्वबीजानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वबीज
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वरत्नानि: all gems
• सर्वरत्नानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वरत्न
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• वीरुधः: creepers, vines
• वीरुधः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu-deva
• kumbha (ritual jars/pots)
• gold (hiraṇya)
• silver (rājata)
• earthenware (pārthiva)
• medicinal herbs (oṣadhyaḥ)
• seeds (bījāni)
• gems (ratnāni)
• creepers/plants (vīrudhaḥ)
• princes and princesses (implied by the accompanying prose sense)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of honoring a worthy person through pure and auspicious offerings—items that sustain life (herbs, seeds, plants) and symbolize prosperity and legitimacy (gold, silver, gems, ritual jars). Ethical emphasis falls on reverence, orderly preparation, and the sanctity of consecratory rites.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva foretells that royal attendants—many princes and princesses—will arrive bearing abhiṣeka (anointing/consecration) materials: golden, silver, and earthen jars along with herbs, seeds, gems, and creepers, indicating a forthcoming ceremonial honoring.