Shloka 1

कुरुसभायां केशवागमन-सत्कारविधानम् / Preparations to Honor Keśava at the Kuru Court

Devanagari script

[दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ५ ३ *लोक मिलाकर कुल ७७ ६ “लोक हैं।] व््य्््न्च्ध्् श्यु आप आय चतुरशीतितमो< ध्याय: मार्गके शुभाशुभ हे 26247 तथा मार्गमें लोगोंद्वारा सत्कार पाते हुए वृकस्थल पहुँचकर वहाँ विश्राम करना वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रयान्तं देवकीपुत्रं परवीररुजो दश । महारथा महाबाहुमन्वयु: शस्त्रपाणय:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | prayāntaṃ devakīputraṃ paravīrarujo daśa | mahārathā mahābāhum anvayuḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: As Devakī’s son (Kṛṣṇa), the mighty-armed one, set out, ten great chariot-warriors—weapon in hand and capable of crushing hostile heroes—followed in his train. The scene underscores the gravity of Kṛṣṇa’s mission: even a messenger of peace moves amid the realities of power, protection, and the looming threat of war.

Word by Word

• प्रयान्तम्: departing, going forth (him who was departing)
• प्रयान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb-derived adjective (present participle)
• Root: प्रयत् (गम् धातु, प्र-उपसर्ग)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देवकीपुत्रम्: Devakī's son (Kṛṣṇa)
• देवकीपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परवीररुजः: pain-causing to enemy-heroes
• परवीररुजः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परवीररुज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दश: ten
• दश: Karta
• Type: Numeral (indeclinable in use)
• Root: दशन्
• Form: true

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महाबाहुम्: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वयुः: followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इ (धातु: इ/ए, लिट्/लुङ् रूप-परम्परा; here: लिट् 3pl)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शस्त्रपाणयः: weapon-in-hand, armed
• शस्त्रपाणयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: शस्त्रपाणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Devakī
• Kṛṣṇa (Devakīputra, Mahābāhu)
• ten Mahārathas (unnamed armed warriors)
• weapons (śastra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when the aim is peace and righteous counsel, leadership must account for real danger; dharma in political life often requires prudent protection without abandoning ethical intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa sets out on a significant journey (in the Udyoga context, a high-stakes mission amid rising conflict), and ten elite, armed chariot-warriors accompany him as a protective escort.