Shloka 41

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

तस्य दक्षिणतो भाति दण्डो गच्छन्‌ श्रिया वृत:

Transliteration

tasya dakṣiṇato bhāti daṇḍo gacchan śriyā vṛtaḥ

Translation

To his right, a staff is seen moving along, encircled by auspicious splendor—an emblem of righteous authority and disciplined order accompanying him.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• दक्षिणतः: to the right (side)
• दक्षिणतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: directional adverb (ablatival sense)

• भाति: shines/appears
• भाति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (भाति)
• Form: lat, present, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• दण्डः: staff/rod
• दण्डः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• गच्छन्: going, moving
• गच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: present active participle (शतृ), masculine, nominative, singular

• श्रिया: with splendor/fortune
• श्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

• वृतः: covered/surrounded/endowed
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वृणोति/वृ)
• Form: past passive participle (क्त), masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Daṇḍa (staff/rod of authority)
• Śrī (splendor/fortune)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Righteous authority (daṇḍa) is not mere force; when aligned with dharma it is accompanied by śrī—legitimacy, auspiciousness, and moral radiance—signaling disciplined governance rather than arbitrary punishment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes an auspicious sign: on the figure’s right side a staff is seen proceeding, shining and surrounded by splendor, indicating the presence of orderly power and protective, dharmic rule.