Shloka 47

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

चामरे चापि वायुश्न गृहीत्वाग्निश्व धिष्ठितौ । शक्रश्न पृष्ठतस्तस्य याति राजज्छ़्िया वृत:

Transliteration

cāmare cāpi vāyuś ca gṛhītvā agniś ca dhiṣṭhitau | śakraś ca pṛṣṭhatas tasya yāti rājalakṣmyā vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

“The chowries and the Wind, having taken their places, attend upon him; Fire too stands ready in service. Indra follows behind him, and he proceeds surrounded by royal fortune and splendor.”

Word by Word

• चामरे: in/with the two fly-whisks
• चामरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• वायु: Wind (Vāyu)
• वायु: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गृहीत्वा: having taken/holding
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• अग्निः: Fire (Agni)
• अग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अधिष्ठितौ: stationed/posted (as attendants)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस्

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• याति: goes/follows
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present, Indicative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजश्रियाः: with royal splendor/fortune
• राजश्रियाः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजश्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded/attended
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Vāyu
• Agni
• Śakra (Indra)
• cāmara (royal chowries)
• rājalakṣmī (royal fortune/majesty)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of rightful sovereignty: when a person is endowed with true royal fortune (rājalakṣmī), even cosmic powers are portrayed as aligning in service. Ethically, it implies that legitimate authority is marked by auspicious order, dignity, and the harmonious support of dharma and prosperity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a figure moving forward in majestic procession. Royal emblems (chowries) and deities like Vāyu and Agni are depicted as attending him, while Indra follows behind—an image of extraordinary honor and divinely sanctioned splendor.