Shloka 893

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

भूज़राजोपचक्राश्व लोहपृष्ठा: पतत्त्रिण: । 'भृंगराज, उपचक्र (चक्रवाक) और लोहपृष्ठ (कंक) नामक पक्षी ऐसी मीठी बोली बोलते हैं, जो समस्त प्राणियोंके मनको मोह लेती है

Transliteration

bhūjarājopacakrāśva lohapṛṣṭhāḥ patattriṇaḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Birds such as the bhṛṅgarāja, the upacakra (cakravāka), and the lohapṛṣṭha utter a sweet, captivating speech that enchants the minds of all living beings.”

Word by Word

• भृङ्गराज: the bird called bhr̥ṅgarāja
• भृङ्गराज: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपचक्र: the bird called upacakra (cakravāka)
• उपचक्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अश्वलोहपृष्ठाः: the birds called aśva-lohapṛṣṭha (iron-backed; a kind of bird, e.g., heron/crane per tradition)
• अश्वलोहपृष्ठाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वलोहपृष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पतत्त्रिणः: birds (winged ones)
• पतत्त्रिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतत्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• bhūjarāja (bird)
• upacakra / cakravāka (bird)
• lohapṛṣṭha / kaṅka (bird)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of pleasant, well-formed speech: sweetness in expression can attract and influence the minds of all beings, suggesting an ethical appreciation for gentle, non-harsh communication.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing certain birds renowned for their captivating calls, using them as an evocative natural image within the Vana Parva’s forest setting.