Shloka 8

निवातकवचैः सह अर्जुनस्य रथयुद्धम्

Arjuna’s chariot engagement with the Nivātakavacas

Devanagari script

पूजयामास चैवाथ विधिवद्‌ भूरिदक्षिण: । यथार्हममितात्मानं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा,यज्ञोंमें प्रचुर दक्षिणा देनेवाले युधिष्ठिर शास्त्रवर्णित पद्धतिसे अमितवबुद्धि इन्द्रका विधिवत्‌ स्वागत-सत्कार किया

Transliteration

pūjayāmāsa caivātha vidhivad bhūridakṣiṇaḥ | yathārham amitātmānaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||

Translation

Then Yudhiṣṭhira—renowned for granting abundant sacrificial gifts—honoured him in due form. With a disciplined and generous mind, he offered a fitting welcome and reverential hospitality to Indra, performing the rites exactly as prescribed by sacred rule and established practice.

Word by Word

पूजयामासhonoured, worshipped

चand

एवindeed, just

अथthen

विधिवत्according to rule, duly

भूरिदक्षिणःone having abundant gifts (fees)

यथाas, according to

अर्हम्as is proper/deserved

अमितात्मानम्the one of immeasurable self/might

विधिदृष्टेनprescribed by rule (seen in the injunctions)

कर्मणाby an act/rite

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Indra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 highlights dharma expressed as disciplined hospitality and ritual propriety: honouring a worthy guest (especially a divine visitor) with generosity and in accordance with prescribed norms, showing that ethical kingship includes reverence, restraint, and correct observance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, famed for lavish sacrificial gifts, formally receives and honours Indra, offering him appropriate welcome-rites and respect exactly according to scriptural procedure.