Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विषाणा: पद्माभा: कुड्जरा: सकरेणव:

Transliteration

caturviṣāṇāḥ padmābhāḥ kuḍjarāḥ sakareṇavaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Elephants with four tusks, lotus-hued in appearance, and accompanied by their females were seen.”

Word by Word

• चतुर्विषाणाः: four-tusked (lit. having four horns/tusks)
• चतुर्विषाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विषाण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पद्माभाः: lotus-like in appearance
• पद्माभाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्माभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुञ्जराः: elephants
• कुञ्जराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सकरेणवः: together with female elephants (cows)
• सकरेणवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकरेणु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• elephants (kuḍjara)
• female elephants (kareṇu)
• lotus (padma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily offers evocative description rather than direct instruction; its ethical-literary function is to frame the forest episode with auspicious and extraordinary natural imagery, suggesting that the world of dharma is accompanied by meaningful signs and a heightened attentiveness to nature’s order.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana describes a sight in the forest: remarkable elephants—depicted as four-tusked and lotus-hued—moving along with their females, contributing to the atmosphere of marvel and portent within the Vana Parva setting.