Mahabharata 3.20.7 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 20, Shloka 7

Śālva–Pradyumna Yuddha: Sārathya-kauśala, Astra-pratikāra, Daiva-niyati

Chapter 20

Devanagari script

ततो<हं भरतश्रेष्ठ समाश्वास्य पुरे जनम्‌ । राजानमाहुकं चैव तथैवानकदुन्दुभिम्‌

Transliteration

tato 'haṃ bharataśreṣṭha samāśvāsya pure janam | rājānam āhukaṃ caiva tathaivānakadundubhim ||

Translation

Then, O best of the Bharatas, after reassuring the people of the city, I addressed King Āhuka (Ugrasena) and likewise Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva), strengthening their confidence and the joy of the Vṛṣṇis—urging: “O foremost of the Yadu line, remain ever vigilant for the protection of the city.”

Word by Word

• {'tataḥ': 'then, thereafter', 'aham': 'I', 'bharataśreṣṭha': 'O best among the Bharatas (honorific address)', 'samāśvāsya': 'having consoled/reassured, having given confidence', 'pure': 'in the city', 'janam': 'the people', 'rājānam': 'the king', 'āhukam': 'Āhuka (name/epithet associated with Ugrasena in this context)', 'ca eva': 'and indeed/also', 'tathā eva': 'likewise, in the same manner', 'ānakadundubhim': 'Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva

• epithet meaning ‘kettledrum-like’)', 'rakṣā': 'protection, defense', 'sadā': 'always', 'sāvadhāna': 'attentive, vigilant'}

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (speaker)
• Bharataśreṣṭha (addressee, honorific)
• people of the city (pura-jana)
• Āhuka (Ugrasena)
• Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva)
• Vṛṣṇis
• Yadu lineage (Yadukula)
• the city (pura)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler and leading elders must steady public morale and remain continually vigilant in safeguarding the city; protecting subjects and preventing panic are key duties aligned with rājadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva says that after calming the city’s people, he speaks to King Āhuka (Ugrasena) and to Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva), encouraging the Vṛṣṇis and urging constant readiness to defend the city.